'Net Carbon Zero by Nature' is New Zealand's first certified Grass-Fed, end-to-end Net Carbon Zero red meat, where 100% of end-to-end emissions have been offset within the farms where the animals were raised.

We are using whole-of-farm thinking to reimagine the traditionally unproductive land into something of real value and positive benefit.

Silver Fern Farms are supporting and incentivizing our farmers to protect, restore and add to the amount of native bush and tree plantings – gullies, fence lines, summer shade and shelter belts, so that our farm environments are better able to capture carbon, and become more biodiverse. This approach is our way of supporting and encouraging our farmers to care for the land.

What is ‘Net Carbon Zero’?

'Net Carbon Zero’ means that the total emissions generated by each pound of product, are independently measured and certified, right throughout the whole life of the product.

To achieve and maintain our Net Carbon Zero certification, for every pound of product sold, the equivalent amount of emissions need to be removed by vegetation occurring on the group of farms that supply the product.

We have labelling approval from the USDA on our Net Carbon Zero claims. In New Zealand, our Net Carbon Zero certification, is independently certified by Toitū Envirocare and is based on the British Standards institute measure called PAS2050, which is also similar to the International Standards Organization ISO14067 product standard.

To enable us to do this we measure all stages of product emissions from the birth of an animal right through to how a consumer disposes of packaging of the product. Using satellite technology and machine learning we then identify on-farm permanent vegetation that is absorbing the equivalent amount of Carbon Dioxide from the atmosphere.

We then contract and purchase this carbon from farmers to account for all of the emissions associated with the meat produced within the program. This not only rewards our farmers for their strong environmental management practices, it also highlights the benefits of Grass-Fed beef from New Zealand.

Whole-of-farm thinking is not just about offsetting emissions but creating farm environments that are better able to capture carbon and are more biodiverse. It’s about transforming traditionally unproductive farmland into something of real value and positive benefit.

This process is supporting and incentivizing our farmers to protect, restore and add to the amount of native bush and tree plantings. It is a way of respecting and caring for the land that is reflected in the health and happiness of our animals. The result is care you can trust and taste.

Find out more about Net Carbon Zero by clicking the FAQ button below.