The project will help the people of the Waiapu catchment, and Ngati Porou in particular look for options that will build resilience by focusing on what land use options, particularly forestry suit the catchment and community and developing new forestry approaches. This will be delivered by the local community, scientists, policy makers, and technical specialists taking a participatory approach to problem solving.

The purpose of the project was to, in collaboration with Aohanga Incorporation, develop a science-based climate change resilience strategy for Aohanga‘s multiple owned Owahanga Farm Station and to develop a social process framework for engaging rural communities and land-owning Iwi Incorporations in climate change mitigation and adaptation.

We evaluated the potential of forage rape (Brassica napus L.) to mitigate animal-level methane and nitrous oxide emissions when fed to growing sheep. In a previous study, funded by the PGgRc, feeding forage rape to sheep reduced methane emissions per unit of feed eaten by 25% compared with those from sheep fed ryegrass.

Plant diseases, a major constraint on New Zealand's horticultural production, are likely to be affected by temperature and rainfall changes resulting from global climate warming. This study undertook a quantitative analysis for key diseases affecting major horticultural crop sectors using disease risk models in use within those sectors, to ascertain likely changes in regional disease and allow the horticultural industry to plan for the future.

The nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide (DCD) is used in New Zealand dairy farming to reduce nitrogen (N) losses from leaching and nitrous oxide emissions. Overseas studies have shown that, in certain conditions, DCD can potentially have an effect on a range of crops. This study assesses the impact of DCD on white clover growth and nitrogen fixation.

Insect pollinated seed crops contribute at least NZ$60Million annually in export earnings. These crops are pollinated by a range of insects including honey bees, bumble bees, native bees and flies, and maintaining pollinator diversity can be important for maximising crop yields. However, different pollinators are active at different times of the day and under varying climatic conditions (activity windows).

Indentification of methanogen-specific inhibitors and cross-reactive vaccine antigens

This report reviews what is currently known about the impacts of climate change on erosion processes and control methods in New Zealand. It reviews: climate change projections relevant to erosion; information on potential impacts; identifies areas most susceptible to climate change impacts on erosion; and summarises climate change effects on erosion; while identifying future research priorities.

Dairy farms in New Zealand use lagoons and ponds to store effluent washdown from milking sheds. These ponds are therefore a significant source of methane. This study aims to test the effectiveness of an improved design of biofilter as an integral part of a pond cover to oxidise CH4 emissions from dairy effluent ponds, thus providing a practical and potentially cost-effective technology to reduce dairy effluent emissions.

Scion, Landcare Research and the University of Canterbury reviewed national and international best practice in steepland plantation forests to understand and minimise the damage from post-harvest landslide and debris flows.

A report on completed and on-going work that examines nitrous oxide emissions from the Waikato River and assesses the results in comparison to previous New Zealand emissions factors for indirect losses from rivers.

One of a series of case studies called adapting to a changing climate. The report summarises the study entitled Learning from past adaptations to extreme climatic events: A case study of drought which looks at historical adaptation to two of the most serious droughts in the North Otago/South Canterbury region. Outlines the drought resistant strategies that dryland farmers have developed over many years in response to drought events.

This report details an exploration of the decision context for land use change as an adaptation to climate change in the primary industries. This project focuses on the dynamic interactions between values, rules, and knowledge used by decision makers. The aim is to support adaptation planning in the primary industries, by contributing to the evidence base, and enhance capability and capacity for responding to the risks and opportunities due to climate change.