If New Zealand reduced agricultural production to comply with Kyoto commitments, other countries would contribute more to global warming.

Agriculture minister David Carter spoke to a gathering of academics, NGO representatives, food and retail representatives and government officials at London’s prestigious Chatham House, the home of the Royal Institute of International Affairs and the Chatham House Rules, on Friday.

He said that because farming in New Zealand contributes half of this country’s greenhouse gas emissions, which is 0.2% of global emissions, all food production here impacts international commitments under the Kyoto Protocol.

“It also means that if New Zealand decreases production to meet these commitments, alternative production will likely occur in other countries which, with more energy-intensive farming methods, will likely lead to a global increase in greenhouse gas emissions, achieving absolutely nothing for global warming,” he said.

Mr Carter was addressing the issue of food security in a changing global environment.

He said New Zealand stood ready to platy a role in passing on agricultural expertise, following a proposal from the G8 group of leading industrialised countries to spend $US12 billion on the development of food production in some of the poorer developing nations.

In what was clearly a limited time slot, Mr Carter touched on New Zealand’s experience on removing farm subsidies and the danger of not proceeding with the Doha Round trade talks addressing this issue globally.

Mr Carter is in Europe to meet with a range of politicians including the European Commissioner for Agriculture, Mariann Fischer Boel and European Commissioner for Trade, Baress Catherine Ashton in Brussels and Britains agriculture minister Hilary Benn.

Mr Carter said he would be canvassing Europe's resumption of subsidies for dairying.

He said in a statement that the trip was a significant opportunity to promote New Zealand's agricultural trade in Europe market and to strengthen relationships with the nation's second-largest trading partner.