With a mature crop protection programme, and experienced research and extension teams, some might ask what Zespri gains from A Lighter Touch, but for Zespri, it’s about investing in what’s good for New Zealand.
Zespri’s Innovation Manager, Sara Fraser-Mackenzie explains Zespri sees its investment as a product group partner in the ALT programme through the lens of its company purpose and mission of guardianship.
Zespri Innovation Manager Sara Fraser-Mackenzie
“Corporate stewardship, supporting what New Zealand needs, is very important to Zespri. Guardianship through helping people, communities and the environment, is a value we hold very strongly.”
Zespri recognises that with a well-developed crop protection programme alongside integrated pest management programmes , it is a step ahead of some of the other product group partners in A Lighter Touch.
“One of the things Zespri can do is provide support and a view of how we run our own crop protection programme. We’re really fortunate that because we’ve been around for a while and have a united industry, we have really established residue, IPM and agrichemical programmes, and we also have some fantastic research partners. We have so much we have learnt that we can share with some of the crop groups who don’t have many resources.”
Sara says the collaborative nature of the A Lighter Touch programme which enables this sharing of knowledge is also something that resonates with Zespri.
“That whole co-operative structure of the kiwifruit industry, and helping each other is basically a big part of why we’re successful. We talk about our post harvest sector being competitive, and it is when it comes to packing fruit, but when it comes down to what’s important for the sector, we all work together. Our extension teams work closely with the industry networks to ensure the latest research findings are shared and practice change encouraged. So, the philosophy behind A Lighter Touch and what built this industry, of working together for the greater good, is very similar.”
Zespri has long seen the benefit of pooling knowledge for the benefit of the sector, and their crop protection team meet regularly with other crops in the horticulture sector.
Zespri’s aligned work with A Lighter Touch focused on refining the integrated pest management programme for use against passion vine hopper (PVH) is a good example of that collaboration. Results and learnings from the project are being shared through A Lighter Touch with other crops where PVH is a common pest, such as passionfruit growers.
Similarly, Zespri opened attendance to its safe spray workshops to growers of other crops last winter, and will do so again this coming winter, and has also shared insights into its research project management processes.
“We have a very structured and established approach to project management, so sharing that information about how to take research from ideation all the way to extension and implementation in the field is of value for those smaller sectors that may not have knowledge or resources.”
In terms of areas of particular interest to Zespri, A Lighter Touch has a number of biodiversity projects underway. These are contributing to understanding of the use of riparian and cover crop plantings for beneficial insects and soil health, which aligns well with Zespri’s sustainability workstreams.
Zespri has also been pleased to see the growing awareness and visibility of what A Lighter Touch is aiming to achieve in terms of moving to more sustainable crop protection practices. Zespri’s Orchard Quality Services Manager Melanie Walker sees the programme’s work in the regulatory environment as a key priority.
Zespri Orchard Quality Services Manager Melanie Walker
“We need to make changes to the time it takes for a new crop protection product to gain approval in New Zealand. If we don’t change, we’re going to end up with some of these crops not being able to produce.”
Zespri sees A Lighter Touch playing an advocacy role for the entire sector in making the case for change in the regulatory pathway, amplifying the grower need for new products to produce crops in a way that’s more sustainable and commercially viable.
“It’s important that it’s understood that we’re not looking for regulatory change in order for more agrichemicals to be sold, we’re looking for regulatory change in order to continue to grow food. If we’re to achieve that move to a more agroecological space, a more sustainable way of growing food, growers need to have products available to them to support that.”
Zespri is not facing quite the same burden as some of the other sectors with numerous crop protection products facing regulatory review, but it sees efforts to seek efficiencies in the regulatory environment as another of the “greater good” benefits of being part of A Lighter Touch.
“If, by being part of this programme, we contribute to changes that support all growers making the move to more sustainable crop protection, that’s something we’re helping achieve for the wider industry. It’s not what’s good for Zespri, it’s what is good for New Zealand, and our horticultural reputation internationally as producers of quality food.”
