On a day when science is very much in the news, research in NZ is very much under fire. It’s not just lefties such as yours truly who think it’s mad to cut agricultural, especially emissions research.
Today’s anonymous editorial in The Herald:
Research cuts are worrying
New Zealand should have the world’s best agricultural science. Our farmers are the most efficient, Fonterra is the leading dairy trader, Federated Farmers sends trade envoys everywhere to testify that agriculture does not have to be a protected industry relying on public subsidies. So when Fed Farmers is concerned at staff cuts in the agricultural science agency, AgResearch, we should be worried. …
RNZ:
Concern for emissions research after jobs cut
The logic of sacking scientists researching greenhouse gases is being questioned, in light of the government’s insistence the solution to rising emissions will be found through scientific innovation.
Crown research institute (CRI) AgResearch is laying off 33 scientists and 50 technicians because it is scaling back research on greenhouse gases, and animal and forage sciences.
Labour climate change spokesperson Megan Woods said the government had always said research and development in that area was the silver bullet to meeting reduced emissions targets. “So to hear that we’re losing jobs in that area is concerning for me, and I want to know what the plan is from here.”
Green Party environment spokesperson Eugenie Sage said it was incredibly short sighted to be cutting scientists in an area so crucial to New Zealand’s future. “The government has said that until we’ve got the technological innovation we can’t really address climate change and agriculture. “Given that agriculture constitutes such a large part of New Zealand’s emissions, AgResearch scientists are doing that core work, cutting science staff, cutting the technical staff, significantly reduces our capacity.” …
A consequence particularly dear to my own heart:
Research cuts send negative signal to aspiring scientists
Just over half of AgResearch staff have been employed at the crown research institute for less than two years, a “staggering” figure says the New Zealand Association of Scientists (NZAS).
…
NZAS president Dr Nicola Gaston said by making the cuts the Government was telling young New Zealanders that careers in science were not for them. “This is a deeply concerning level of staff turnover for any organisation, let alone a science agency engaged in long-term research programmes which require continuity and stable working conditions,” Gaston said. …
Hey National – everyone opposes cutting agricultural research, and it blows away even the pretense that you care about climate change. What the hell are you doing?
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