Cadmium in New Zealand
- Report One: Cadmium in New Zealand Agriculture
Cadmium naturally occurs in phosphate rock, from which phosphate fertiliser is made. Phosphate fertiliser use underpins agricultural production and therefore contributes significantly to New Zealand’s economy. Cadmium tends to accumulate in soils with ongoing application of phosphate fertilisers, and there is evidence that cadmium levels in New Zealand’s soils are increasing. This raises the potential for higher cadmium concentrations in some food products grown on soils with elevated cadmium levels. Excessive levels of cadmium in food can have implications for human health, market access and trade, and the ability to change from one land use to another.
Download the report in PDF format [PDF 938KB]
- Soil Maps of Cadmium in New Zealand
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry engaged Landcare Research Ltd to establish a GIS-based system providing national coverage of a cadmium baseline, current levels with the option of establishing future levels.
Download full document as a PDF file [PDF 2MB]
Contact for Enquiries
Sustainable Land Management and Climate Change
MAF
Pastoral House
25 The Terrace
PO Box 2526, Wellington
Tel: 0800 CLIMATE (254 628)
Contact this person
