Zespri urges innovators to find solutions that drive a sensible decarbonization and increase orchard productivity
Singapore-Zespri, the world's largest Kiwifluit marketer with over $ 2.5 billion in sales and a third of the global industry volume, confirms its investments of $ 2 million to ZAG, the ZESPRI innovation fund to accelerate sustainable innovation for kiwif fruit fulfilled sustainable innovations.
After ZAG's start in November 2023, Zespri is now looking for innovators and pioneers to strengthen the resistance of the climate over food systems and create solutions that promote productivity and the carbon practices relevant to kiwiffruit.
ZAG has already received more than 100 submissions from more than 15 countries, whereby 11 pilot programs were concentrated on four areas with the fund: (1) Initiatives that are good for kiwifluit by control superior quality and lifting of orchard productivity. (2) Initiatives that are good for people by promoting well -being through Kiwiffruit consumption; (3) Initiatives that are good for the environment by protecting and improving nature; (4) And finally initiatives that promote a flourishing kiwifluit industry and benefit the producers and local communities to which they belong.
So far, ZAG pilots have investigated a variety of sustainability efforts, including the use of biochall in Kiwiffruit fruit gardens, in order to increase the orchard productivity and reduce emissions that are analyzed by fruit to plan the planning of Kiwifluites and the use of To support microwave sensories without assessing microwave sensors.
“We had a really positive first year with ZAG. It helped us to connect with innovative problem solvers from all over the world to cope with the most important challenges of our industry when we meet the growing demand for Kiwiffruit, but this is only the beginning, ”said Jiunn Shih, Chief Marketing, Innovation and Sustainability Officer. “For the second year, we increase our efforts to concentrate on strengthening the resistance and solutions of the climate that will help us increase a more sustainable future.
“We will also refresh the focus of ZAG every quarter, initially the resistance of the climate as part of our promise to work with partners, look at the CO2 -positive carbon positive and then other priorities by 2035,” says Shih.
As a result of the focus of the industry on climate effectiveness, ZAG is expected to include solutions that help grow better kiwif fruit and at the same time promote soil health by improving water retention, biological diversity and carbon storage to support the producers to improve the resistance of the fruit gardens while growing.
As one of the world's leading fruit brands, Zespri works with more than 4,000 birds around the world to bring delicious fruits to more than 50 countries. The long -term sustainability goals and goals are closely oriented and accelerated by the ZAG initiative.
To learn more or apply for the fund, please visit: https://www.zespri.com/en-nz/zagfund.
The ZAG annual report from Zespri, in which the 11 pilots from the first year are described, can be found here.
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