sign up log in
Want to go ad-free? Find out how, here.

Keith Woodford

About

Keith Woodford is an independent consultant who holds honorary positions as Professor of Agri-Food Systems at Lincoln University and Senior Research Fellow at the Contemporary China Research Centre at Victoria University. His archived writings are available at http://keithwoodford.wordpress.com

Member for

12 years 2 months

Latest articles

peeps
New Zealand needs a population policy
Keith Woodford digs into NZ population data and makes some surprising discoveries
26th Jun 25, 10:52am
by Keith Woodford
30
Keith Woodford digs into NZ population data and makes some surprising discoveries
falling growth rate
NZ’s decline in per capita economic growth is fundamental and long-term
Keith Woodford traces the structural decline in per capita economic growth, with the average Kiwi having made minimal progress in their income-earning ability from early 2020
29th May 25, 10:21am
by Keith Woodford
59
Keith Woodford traces the structural decline in per capita economic growth, with the average Kiwi having made minimal progress in their income-earning ability from early 2020
milking cows
Dairy’s future as the export leader
Dairy is the export leader that underpins the economy but as Keith Woodford notes, it can only do what is possible
18th Jan 25, 9:45am
by Keith Woodford
75
Dairy is the export leader that underpins the economy but as Keith Woodford notes, it can only do what is possible
Tauranga container terminal
Economic growth depends on exports
New Zealand’s current account deficit, now running at $27 bln per annum, is increasingly dominated by interest on historical deficits plus repatriated profits to overseas owners. Export growth is the only possible pathway to solve the problem
6th Jan 25, 9:00am
by Keith Woodford
173
New Zealand’s current account deficit, now running at $27 bln per annum, is increasingly dominated by interest on historical deficits plus repatriated profits to overseas owners. Export growth is the only possible pathway to solve the problem
dairy category shifts
Fonterra takes u-turn on consumer products
Keith Woodford asks whether Fonterra’s proposed structural u-turn will be its final move away from consumer brands and the associated value-add
21st May 24, 2:08pm
by Keith Woodford
23
Keith Woodford asks whether Fonterra’s proposed structural u-turn will be its final move away from consumer brands and the associated value-add
The national A2 milk herd is rapidly becoming dominant
The dairy industry needs a strategic A2 policy
Keith Woodford reveals a rather remarkable transition underway where A2 beta-casein milk from 2024-born calves will exceed 85%. He calls for a full-industry review of how we can benefit from the unique advantage that gives our dairy sector
14th May 24, 10:29am
by Keith Woodford
12
Keith Woodford reveals a rather remarkable transition underway where A2 beta-casein milk from 2024-born calves will exceed 85%. He calls for a full-industry review of how we can benefit from the unique advantage that gives our dairy sector
cow and birds
Bird flu presents lots of uncertainty for both animals and humans
Keith Woodford notes bird flu has been evolving rapidly with unknown consequences.  It's now worldwide except for New Zealand and Australia
24th Apr 24, 2:38pm
by Keith Woodford
19
Keith Woodford notes bird flu has been evolving rapidly with unknown consequences.  It's now worldwide except for New Zealand and Australia
Farm forestry
Farm forestry options in a world of imponderables
Keith Woodford observes carbon credits lie at the heart of forestry, sheep and beef economics, but it is not a simple story
22nd Apr 24, 10:21am
by Keith Woodford
17
Keith Woodford observes carbon credits lie at the heart of forestry, sheep and beef economics, but it is not a simple story
Synlait at sunset
Synlait battles for survival
Keith Woodford says Synlait cannot survive without major asset sales plus major new equity
2nd Apr 24, 7:06pm
by Keith Woodford
20
Keith Woodford says Synlait cannot survive without major asset sales plus major new equity
RubyRed kiwifruit
Can kiwifruit help fill the gap?
Keith Woodford says New Zealand has an unbalanced economy and desperately needs more exports. Kiwifruit is one of the few industries with potential to help fill the gap
21st Mar 24, 8:09am
by Keith Woodford
37
Keith Woodford says New Zealand has an unbalanced economy and desperately needs more exports. Kiwifruit is one of the few industries with potential to help fill the gap
good science
The A2 milk journey is just beginning
Keith Woodford provides an update on A2 milk, noting good science always wins out in the long run, but this can require a long journey with many twists and turns
6th Mar 24, 10:56am
by Keith Woodford
27
Keith Woodford provides an update on A2 milk, noting good science always wins out in the long run, but this can require a long journey with many twists and turns
Production hall, Synlait
Where does Synlait’s future lie?
Keith Woodford says Synlait is in big trouble with losses mounting up and no easy answers
20th Feb 24, 9:44am
by Keith Woodford
13
Keith Woodford says Synlait is in big trouble with losses mounting up and no easy answers
Methane’s path to the future
Keith Woodford says taxing methane is not the answer. But we cannot walk away from the need to reduce methane-intensity in rural products
8th Feb 24, 11:02am
by Keith Woodford
36
Keith Woodford says taxing methane is not the answer. But we cannot walk away from the need to reduce methane-intensity in rural products
three farmers, different emissions
Finding firm ground for the methane debate
Keith Woodford says dividing up methane liabilities requires judgements as to who should bear the burden
23rd Jan 24, 4:09pm
by Keith Woodford
21
Keith Woodford says dividing up methane liabilities requires judgements as to who should bear the burden
dairy cows in Taranaki
How should methane emissions be calculated?
Calculating methane emissions requires a mix of science and value judgements, writes Keith Woodford
16th Jan 24, 9:07am
by Keith Woodford
32
Calculating methane emissions requires a mix of science and value judgements, writes Keith Woodford
pine seedling
Carbon farming needs long-term rules
Stopping the ETS review solves one carbon-forestry issue for the meantime, but also brings other carbon-forestry issues to the fore
5th Dec 23, 6:28pm
by Keith Woodford
33
Stopping the ETS review solves one carbon-forestry issue for the meantime, but also brings other carbon-forestry issues to the fore
serious discussions
Big carbon farming decisions lie ahead
Carbon farming presents both opportunities and threats, with lots of uncertainty, and big decisions needed by new government to resolve current predicament
22nd Nov 23, 2:03pm
by Keith Woodford
48
Carbon farming presents both opportunities and threats, with lots of uncertainty, and big decisions needed by new government to resolve current predicament
Shaky Beehive
Sequestration rules will change
Government foreshadows new ETS sequestration categories but then creates yet another communication muddle
10th Dec 22, 9:49am
by Keith Woodford
28
Government foreshadows new ETS sequestration categories but then creates yet another communication muddle
lightbulb moment at MPI and MofE
Moving forward on methane levies
Split-gas breaks the link to charging methane emissions based on contentious carbon dioxide equivalence. It opens the door to a levy based on research, development, extension and education (RDE&E) needs rather than simply a tax
30th Nov 22, 6:03pm
by Keith Woodford
60
Split-gas breaks the link to charging methane emissions based on contentious carbon dioxide equivalence. It opens the door to a levy based on research, development, extension and education (RDE&E) needs rather than simply a tax
polarised random argument
Agricultural GHG bullets are firing randomly
Flawed Government messaging creates further heat in the agricultural GHG debate. There is lots of work still to be done
9th Nov 22, 9:58am
by Keith Woodford
55
Flawed Government messaging creates further heat in the agricultural GHG debate. There is lots of work still to be done
cows grazing
Key methane technologies misfire
Methane technology breakthroughs cannot stop ruminants from doing what comes naturally
27th Oct 22, 7:25am
by Keith Woodford
95
Methane technology breakthroughs cannot stop ruminants from doing what comes naturally
Pine forest
Simon Upton, methane and forestry offsets
Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Simon Upton says there are good reasons to allow forestry offsets for methane rather than for fossil fuels
10th Oct 22, 1:21pm
by Keith Woodford
43
Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Simon Upton says there are good reasons to allow forestry offsets for methane rather than for fossil fuels
Native forest near Waitomo
Voluntary sequestration schemes create opportunities as well as confusion
Native forests that began regenerating prior to 1990 are excluded from the ETS. This opens opportunities for voluntary schemes independent of Government
28th Sep 22, 1:29pm
by Keith Woodford
23
Native forests that began regenerating prior to 1990 are excluded from the ETS. This opens opportunities for voluntary schemes independent of Government
Native forest
Carbon offsets are not created equal
[updated]
Carbon offsets are a mix, some official and others unofficial, and certified to different rules. This creates confusion in the market place
13th Sep 22, 1:20pm
by Keith Woodford
67
Carbon offsets are a mix, some official and others unofficial, and certified to different rules. This creates confusion in the market place
Debating cows
Dairy is fundamental to New Zealand’s future
Keith Woodford says there is need for a much better-informed debate about the future of dairy
31st Aug 22, 8:38am
by Keith Woodford
96
Keith Woodford says there is need for a much better-informed debate about the future of dairy