Mike Petersen says new environmental rules will be challenging for some farmers.

The future direction is clear when it comes to environmental policy and limiting greenhouse gas emissions, says New Zealand Special Agricultural Trade Envoy Mike Petersen.

The new target of zero net emissions would be tough for farmers and it was not yet clear what it would mean, he told farmers at the national deer industry conference in Timaru. "We need to get onboard with this. The Government has pledged to work with farmers and allow a transition period and to help with technology.

"Even if there was a change of government, I don't think a National Government would reverse this work or reinstate oil and gas exploration."

While every farm should have a farm environmental plan, he believed this would go further in the future. "Farmers will have a single farm plan that will cover environmental stewardship, animal welfare, traceability and tracking movements (Nait) and GHG emissions.

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"That will be challenging for some farmers, but that will be the direction of travel. We will need that plan, as that will be the evidence of the integrity of what we do for the story that New Zealand needs to promote to markets."

"That will allow us to differentiate ourselves as the natural, unprocessed alternative to some of the challenges facing the sector."

DOUG FIELD/STUFF Timaru hosted the national deer farmers' conference.

The integrity of New Zealand's agricultural production systems was unparalleled elsewhere in the world, but a story and vision was needed.

"This would be focused on working with nature to create high-value food from the most beautiful and trusted place on earth.

"There are a number of conversations happening, but in my view they are too fragmented and we need to pull these together." The overseas example of "Origin Green" - Ireland's food and drink sustainability programme - was a "pure piece of Irish magic", he said.

For too long, individual agricultural sectors had argued their corner when it came to regulatory and government policy. "The sector is far stronger together and needs to have those discussions behind closed doors and present a united position to get the best outcome."

New Zealand needed trade access to affluent markets if it expected consumers to continue paying top prices for its products, said Petersen.

"In the past, many of our trade agreements have been with less wealthy countries. We need to make sure we have access into the most affluent markets in the world if we are going to get true value from our added-value products."

Following Brexit, New Zealand wanted to protect its existing access and establish new trade agreements into Europe and the United Kingdom. "We are at or near the top of the queue when the UK starts negotiating post-Brexit."

New Zealand expected to get the mandate this week from Europe to start official negotiations.

The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement was huge, even without the United States' participation. It represented 15 per cent of the world's GDP, 500 million people and 11 countries in Asia and the Pacific, the fastest growing region on earth. "For New Zealand to be in this agreement is an absolute must".

The agreement would generate $220 million in tariff savings, $100m of those on entry and would come into force when endorsed by a majority of six out of the 11 countries. "Mexico already has and it is expected that the next five countries will have by the end of the year. Then there is a 60-day stand down period before it becomes active."

Korea, Indonesia and Thailand had also expressed interest in joining, along with the UK. "We have the opportunity to negotiate again with these new countries as they come in," Petersen said.