State of the art milk plant proposed for Darfield

Canterbury members of Federated Farmers are welcoming news Fonterra Cooperative Group is commencing consultation on the construction of a state-of-the-art processing facility in Darfield.



“This is incredibly good news for farmers, the town of Darfield, Canterbury and New Zealand as a whole,” says Willy Leferink, Federated Farmers Dairy vice-chairperson.



“As it could generate some 50 new full time positions, it shows how beneficial Canterbury’s dairy industry is.



“Yet what Federated Farmers is excited about is the logistical efficiency and environmental credentials this plant could offer.



“Darfield is an ideal hub, which maximises tanker efficiency while being close to the Port of Lyttelton. This advances the environmental efficiency of dairy products as the sea is the most efficient means of transport over long distances.



“Yet if the consultation is successful and we hope it will be, this plant will be absolutely state-of-the-art built to best practice from the ground floor up.



“It’s further proof that the Cooperative and its members are doing amazing things on and off farm.



“Fonterra’s energy savings over the past five years is equivalent to the electricity used by about 100,000 households while 90 percent of Fonterra’s waste is now reused or recycled. On-farm, our emissions efficiency since 1990 has improved by some one percent year-on-year.



“This goes to the heart of the modern dairy industry as we’re focused on productivity and profitability but with the smallest practicable environmental footprint.



“This is positive and exciting news about where the dairy industry is heading rather than where we’ve been,” Mr Leferink concluded.