A positive charge into the future

Introducing the Impact Orchard Network

Many of us have an expectation that top-quality kiwifruit will be grown in New Zealand for many generations to come. To ensure that this vision is realised, let’s create opportunities to encourage innovative ways of not only growing kiwifruit, but also looking after the land and the people.

One such opportunity is the Impact Orchard Network, affectionately referred to as ‘ION’. The purpose of ION is to develop and demonstrate sustainable orchard practices, with a particular focus on the economic and environmental aspects of sustainability. To achieve this, ION will support a small number of orchards (three in the first year, slowly incorporating more orchards over subsequent years) to share their insights to the wider industry on what initiatives work well, what could be improved, and how they will create positive economic and environmental change on their orchard as they grow into the future.

ION growers will be part of a community that will collectively showcase orchard trials, demonstrate new ideas, test innovative new technologies, and validate scientific research findings. These activities will all help understand the practicality of what it means to be ‘sustainable’. ION growers will also be given support in implementing and profiling new regulatory requirements, such as Freshwater Farm Plans and the evolution of GAP (Good Agricultural Practice), of which the most recent updates are coming in the form of GAP v6.0.

Daniel Kenna, along with his parents Phillipa Wright and Stephen Kenna, is one of the first growers to come on board with the ION programme. At the family’s new development orchard close to the harbour near Aongatete, they have incorporated a range of initiatives that are working towards having a positive impact on the land and the orchard. These initiatives have been a part of their family’s ethos to growing kiwifruit for many years. They are passionate about recognising the health of soil, encouraging biodiversity and water quality as markers of success in their orchard.

“I have grown up in the kiwifruit industry, so to me, this is a way of life,” Daniel said. “Over the years we observe, we adapt and we change. I think my ‘why’ comes from curiosity – being curious about how the vine responds to things like pruning, what I can learn from the soil, how the different parts of the orchard ecosystem fits together, and the many different ways that people grow kiwifruit. I am excited about the Impact Orchard Network because I think that we can learn so much more from each other, than we can from trying one or two things by ourselves.”

Kiwifruit growers have changed orchard practices in the past, and there will be more changes to come. Recent events have presented our industry with an assortment of challenges that threaten the sustainability of growing kiwifruit, ranging from labour shortages to climate change. ION seeks to be proactive and explore what suite of practices are best for our industry, keeping in mind the current situation and what may happen in the future.

If you are an industry expert, researcher, technology provider or grower and want to have a front seat on the ION bus, we are interested in hearing from you.
For more information, contact Michael Kramer via email at michael.kramer@zespri.com