Our Partners

Horticulture New Zealand represents the interests of more than 6000 fruit and vegetable growers from across the country. The export and domestic horticulture industry is now worth more than $6 billion to New Zealand annually, and that does not include wine.

HortNZ believes that the move to agroecological crop protection techniques is critical to growers’ prosperity and support of New Zealand’s post-COVID recovery.

‘Our growers want to take greater care of the environment but today, in terms of control of many pests and diseases, they have few viable options. That is why this project is so critical. It will speed up development of agroecological crop protection techniques that are environmentally responsible and effectively control pest and diseases,’ says HortNZ Chief Executive, Mike Chapman.

MPI’s Sustainable Food & Fibre Futures invests in long-term innovation in the primary sector to increase market success, move from volume to value, and generate long-term economic growth and sustainability.

‘A Lighter Touch’ is a 7-year joint venture between the horticulture, arable and wine industries and the Ministry of Primary Industries – all sectors want to make a positive and lasting difference.

Zespri’s purpose is to help people, communities, and the environment around the world thrive through the goodness of kiwifruit. We work with around 2,800 New Zealand and 1,500 international growers and post-harvest companies to source premium Zespri Kiwifruit, which are distributed to wholesale and retail customers in more than 50 countries. We’re proud of the positive contributions we make to our communities, and the fact we’re helping consumers around the world to live healthy for themselves and their loved ones. As part of Zespri’s commitment to sustainability, we invest significantly in the research and development of innovative biological control products that will meet consumer demand for food to be produced sustainably and ethically, while protecting the environment.

The Foundation for Arable Research, FAR, formed in 1995, is an applied research and information transfer organisation responsible primarily to over 2,700 arable farmers from North Cape to Bluff.

Arable crops include cereal grains, pulses, maize grain and silage, and specialised herbage and vegetable seed crops. In 2018 such crops contributed $863 million to New Zealand’s GDP and the industry is estimated to generate employment of over 11,000 FTEs.
FAR CEO, Dr Alison Stewart, says that partnering on A Lighter Touch enables FAR to enhance its research funding and provide increased benefits to New Zealand’s arable growers and consumers.

“Over the seven years of the programme, we will be evaluating a more holistic strategy for crop protection within arable systems in order to help arable growers shift their focus from a strong reliance on synthetic crop protection products to a more integrative system that utilises biological, chemical and ecological processes.”

Bragato Research Institute drives world-leading innovation for the New Zealand wine industry—from blue sky research through to the practical application of science in our vineyards, wineries and supply chain. Launched in 2017 through programme funding from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, we are a wholly owned subsidiary of New Zealand Winegrowers, the national industry body for growers and wineries.

Our Green Star-registered research winery opened in February 2020 in Marlborough. From here, we partner with industry and other research organisations to set the national research agenda, trial world-first technologies, conduct commercial trials, and connect educators and students to science and industry. Research excellence drives our work – whether it’s pioneering curiosity, solving real-world problems faced by the industry or seizing consumer opportunities in an increasingly competitive global market. Participating in A Lighter Touch aligns with the wine industry’s focus on sustainable operations, and highlights the national and global significance of reducing our environmental footprints.

Vegetables New Zealand (VNZI) is the largest and most diverse of the vegetable product groups and represents 760 growers producing over 50 different types of fresh vegetables. Vegetable crops have a farm gate value of over $400 million annually and are grown for domestic and export markets, for consumption as fresh produce.

VNZI has advisory groups that represent the interests of specialist growers – Alliums, Brassicas, Covered crops, Leafy crops, Root and tubers, and Stalks, vines, bulbs and herbs. VNZI are represented in research by the Vegetable Research and Innovation Board, and promotional activities for vegetables with Vegetables.co.nz.

A Lighter Touch will support Vegetables NZ to address the challenges of growing a diverse range of high quality crops and to meet the demands of consumers for healthy and safe food produced with less chemicals.

Onions New Zealand is the peak industry body representing the interests of growers and exporters.

Ninety-one commercial growers farm 5,225 hectares, supplying the domestic market and exporting to markets from the Pacific Islands to the European Union. Onions are the fifth largest horticultural export.

With a strategic vision to significantly increase exports, A Lighter Touch demonstrates Onions NZ’s commitment to sustainable growth and the demands for lower chemical dependence for food production by a global market, at the same time, maintaining the reputation of New Zealand onions.

Process Vegetables New Zealand represents the interests of 350 commercial process vegetable growers on interests specifically crop related, grown in regions throughout New Zealand.

Process growers’ contract their crops to Processing companies. The Processing companies produce frozen, dried, bottled, canned, juices and preserves from a wide range of crops for commercial purposes.

Partnering with A Lighter Touch will enable Process Vegetables NZ to move faster towards achieving its strategic goals of improving yield and productivity, and promoting good crop management practices through R&D.

Citrus New Zealand is the recognised industry body for 320 citrus growers in the main citrus growing regions of Northland and Gisborne. Almost 1,600 hectares is planted of the main citrus crops – navel oranges, Satsuma mandarins, and lemons.

The national crop is mainly consumed by the domestic market. Meyer lemons are the most valuable citrus export.

Partnering in A Lighter Touch supports the citrus industry’s strategy to sustainably maximise grower productivity and profitability and maintain and develop existing export markets. The Lighter Touch programme will support growers drive towards producing high-quality citrus to meet the demands of domestic and global consumers by enhancing access to sustainable crop protection products.

New Zealand’s one hundred and twenty three Fresh tomato growers are represented by Tomatoes NZ Incorporated.

About 42,500 tonnes of fresh tomatoes are grown year-round in 120 hectares of greenhouses, with a small quantity grown outdoors during the warmer months. Most tomatoes are grown for consumption by New Zealanders; however about 10% of the crop is exported to about 20 different countries including Japan, Australia, the Pacific, and North America.

Tomatoes NZ’s purpose is “To build a resilient, responsible and profitable New Zealand Tomato Industry”. Developing new pest management tools and techniques; and tailored programmes that maximise uptake and benefits of those programmes, are key activities for TomatoesNZ. A Lighter Touch will be a key component of these activities and support the industry strategy priorities of “innovative and technology led solutions” and “Supporting our growers”.

Boysenberries New Zealand represents 20 commercial growers farming 206 hectares, producing 2,700 tonnes annually, with half of the national crop exported as frozen berries. Boysenberries are mainly used as an ingredient in jams and preserves, ice cream, drinks, yoghurt, and baked products.

Health benefits from antioxidants and other phytochemicals found in purple berry fruit has increased awareness and interest in boysenberries.

The boysenberry industry’s long term goal is to produce a sustainable crop without the use of today’s chemicals. Boysenberries NZ aims to achieve this as a partner on A Lighter Touch.

The Persimmon Industry Council represents 30 growers, and 8 packhouses in Gisborne, Auckland, Northland, Waikato, and the Bay of Plenty, and 8 licensed exporters.

Persimmons are a relatively new commercial crop for New Zealand, first exported in 1986. Developed in response to demand from Japan, we now export world wide to markets including Australia, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and USA.

The Council’s Export Marketing Strategy requires exports to meet minimum quality standards, and for growers to follow ‘safe food’ principles of orchard management. A Lighter Touch will enable persimmon growers to raise quality while meeting the growing export protocols for safe food and phytosanitary security protocols set by export markets.

The New Zealand Buttercup Squash Council represents 25 growers, 7 pack houses and 10 exporters. The major growing area is Hawkes Bay followed by Gisborne with a small quantity grown in South Auckland. The crop in excess of 80,000 tonnes is exported to Asian markets – Japan as the largest market followed by Korea, China and Hong Kong.

A Lighter Touch will allow NZ Buttercup Squash Council to improve productivity and to maintain high quality standards demanded by its current and future global markets.

Strawberry Growers New Zealand Inc represents approx. 160 growers who produce 6,500 tonnes of fruit each year, the majority of which is consumed on the domestic market.

Strawberries are the largest volume product in NZ and globally within the rapidly expanding ‘soft fruit’ retail category. Exports of NZ$8-10million are concentrated around a number of dedicated growers in Auckland and Waikato.

All exports are made by airfreight. Main markets are Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong plus a large number of smaller destinations.

A significant trend within the industry is a move to provide scope for growers to be provided with a wider selection of plant material. There is also a move towards substrata tabletop growing both covered and uncovered.
As of 1 April 2020, the industry will operate under a commodity levy for the first time. This will provide medium term funding certainty particularly for R&D projects.

A strategic plan refresh has recently been completed within which plant protection with the assistance of agroecological crop protection innovation is considered a “core” strategy.

As an active peak body, Strawberry Growers NZ is well positioned for future development and industry growth. A Lighter Touch aligns with SGNZ goals to expand the industry under its banner “Growing Better Strawberries Together”.

The New Zealand Passionfruit Growers Association represents 55 growers farming 20 hectares of passionfruit in the Bay of Plenty, Auckland, Taranaki, and Northland regions. Together they produce 140 tonnes of fruit each year.

The NZ Passionfruit Growers Association has a strategy for growth and cooperation to expand the industry. The industry sees major benefits by partnering on A Lighter Touch so growers can continue to produce fruit that has the benefits demanded by consumers who want healthy food that is sustainably produced.

Summerfruit NZ is the recognised product group for summerfruit, the collective term for apricots, cherries, nectarines, peaches, and plums. Summerfruit is produced by 230 growers on almost 2,000 hectares of orchards in the main growing areas of Hawke’s Bay, Marlborough, and Central Otago.

The summerfruit season runs from November to March with the peak of export being between December and February.

While the New Zealand summerfruit industry is small in relation to the scale of worldwide production, it is highly regarded for quality in the market.

Cherries are the most valuable crop with around 70% of production exported, with Taiwan and China the two largest markets. Apricots are also exported, but mainly to Australia. Most nectarines, peaches, and plums produced in New Zealand are consumed on the domestic market, with only minor volumes of each exported, largely to the Pacific.

Summerfruit NZ works to represent growers and advocate on their behalf to government on a broad range of issues. We also undertake work in key areas including biosecurity, market access, research & development, and by growing relationships between growers, marketers, retailers and exporters.

As a partner on A Lighter Touch, Summerfruit NZ can work with the wider horticulture sector to continue to increase the value of its crop to develop fruit that will meet consumer demands for food produced in a sustainable way, and at the same time protecting the environment.

Corteva Agriscience is helping shape the sustainable future of food and agriculture by innovating and collaborating to support the needs of both New Zealand growers and consumers of our wonderful produce all over the world. Sustainability is not just a priority for us, it is at the very core of who we are and what we seek to achieve.

Corteva is pleased to be involved with A Lighter Touch, a collaboration we believe will shape a strong and sustainable future for agroecological crop protection in key New Zealand cropping sectors.

Key Industries is dedicated to 'Protecting people, crops and native species' by providing crop protection and pest control products that have been proven to work in New Zealand. We focus on human safety, and minimising environmental impact, through the use of high efficacy products and smart application strategies.

Key Industries' focus on minimising environmental impact aligns with the vision of A Lighter Touch, in supporting plant-based producers to make the shift to growing food with a lighter environmental touch.

At PGG Wrightson we demonstrate our dedication to ‘Helping grow the country’ through our commitment to protecting our natural environment for future generations. To be ‘Leaders in the Field’ we recognise the need to balance issues of environmental, social, cultural and economic sustainability in order to make a valuable contribution to our people, clients, communities and shareholders.

By joining A Lighter Touch, PGW is taking a leadership role in supporting growers and farmers to move to greater use of biological products and more sustainable crop protection programmes, based on science and an evidence-based approach.

In being part of setting the future crop protection strategy for the horticulture, arable and viticulture sectors, PGW is ensuring it will be well-placed to lead and respond to changes in crop protection practices.

Lincoln University takes research from the lab to the field.
Its collaborations with industry, iwi, government, community groups, Crown Research Institutes and other research networks help overcome the challenges facing land-based sectors as we respond to the nation’s need for greater innovation, productivity, resilience and sustainability.

Lincoln University applies its research expertise to develop innovative technologies, advance public policy debates, improve land-based business practices, develop new goods and services, and design new ways of working sustainably for the wellbeing of New Zealand and the world.

Plant & Food Research is a Crown Research Institute providing scientific research that benefits the horticulture, arable, seafood and processed food industries in New Zealand. It supports the sustainable production of high quality foods that earn a premium in national and international markets through research-based innovation.

Plant & Food Research has extensive experience and a strong network of established relationships across the ‘A Lighter Touch’ co-investor group of New Zealand’s horticulture, wine and arable industries. Plant & Food Research understands their businesses, industries and the growing environment.

The production of more and better food, with reduced environmental impacts and fewer inputs, is enabled through the scientists at Plant & Food Research who work to optimise each step of the production supply chain, from the field to the consumer who wants food that meets their health and sustainability demands.

Plant & Food Research will bring its diverse expertise and knowledge of agroecosystems to ‘A Lighter Touch’ across a broad mix of research projects in the programme.

AgResearch plays a key role in delivering new knowledge and technologies to support the agriculture sector – one of New Zealand’s largest export income earners. Research at AgResearch focuses on creating smart, sustainable farming systems and desirable food products as consumers want to be sure the environmental costs of producing their food are reduced as much as possible.

Sustainable food production systems and the creation of safe food, to meet consumer trends and markets, are among AgResearch’s strategic targets, in harmony with the goals of ‘A Lighter Touch’.

AgResearch’s expertise and technical knowledge will add to the evidence base of ‘A Lighter Touch’ – scientific evidence that underpins and supports the transformational agenda of the agri-food sector, aiding transition to new agri-food systems that enhance to societal and environmental conditions.