The true cost of milk: Environmental deterioration vs. profit in the New Zealand dairy industry
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Date
2014-08-29
DOI
Open Access Location
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AgEcon
Rights
Copyright by author(s). Readers may make copies of this document for non-commercial purposes only,
provided that this copyright notice appears on all such copies
Abstract
Over the past two decades, major increases in production have occurred in the New Zealand dairy industry. This has required the use of externally sourced inputs, particularly fertiliser, feed supplements, and irrigation. Contemporary New Zealand dairy farming practice incurs environmental externalities: impacts that are not paid for by the dairy farmer. Hence, the public is left to deal with these externalities, both regarding the economic responsibility and environmental degradation. This study estimated that the economic cost of environmental externalities is higher than the 2012 dairy export revenue of $11.6 billion.
Description
Keywords
New Zealand dairy farming, intensification, externalities, environmental impacts
Citation
New Zealand Agriculture and Research Economics Society, 2014, (2014 Conference, August 28-29, Nelson, New Zealand), pp. 1 - 16