Soja: ROSARIO
$328.500 -0.45%
Maíz: ROSARIO
$207.500 -1.19%
Trigo: ROSARIO
$215.000 0.47%
By Agroempresario.com
The world's leading kiwi fruit marketer, Zespri, has reaffirmed its annual $2 million investment into the Zespri Innovation Fund (ZAG), a key initiative to foster technological advancements that address climate resilience and decarbonization. This commitment underscores the company’s efforts to meet its ambitious sustainability goals, particularly amid the growing challenges posed by climate change.
Zespri’s innovation fund was launched to support the development of solutions that benefit not only the company but also the broader agricultural industry. With over 4,000 kiwi growers worldwide, Zespri is a significant player in the global fruit market, generating over $2.5 billion in revenue. Yet, like many agricultural sectors, the kiwi industry faces increasing risks associated with climate volatility. According to Jiunn Shih, Zespri’s chief marketing, innovation, and sustainability officer, the kiwi industry has been impacted by unpredictable winter conditions, which affect bud breaks, flowering, and overall fruit development.
Zespri has long been committed to advancing sustainable practices, with plans to make all of its packaging recyclable, reusable, or compostable by 2025 and to achieve carbon positivity by 2035. As part of this strategy, ZAG is playing a crucial role in helping the company meet its sustainability promises, particularly in the areas of climate resilience and decarbonization.
The ZAG fund, which was established in 2023, has already garnered over 100 submissions from innovators working on solutions relevant to the kiwi industry. Out of these, 11 have been selected to move forward into pilot programs. A standout example is Scentian Bio, a New Zealand-based company that creates biosensors using insect olfactory receptors. This innovative technology can potentially improve the precision with which Zespri predicts the maturity level of fruit, enabling more accurate harvest timing.
Additionally, ZAG has supported a European company that is turning agricultural waste from kiwi orchards into sustainable packaging. Such initiatives align with Zespri’s vision of fostering a circular economy by repurposing agricultural by-products.
“We are committed to identifying technologies that can not only improve the quality and yield of kiwi fruit but also promote sustainability throughout the production process,” Shih explains. The ZAG fund supports a range of initiatives, from enhancing orchard productivity to promoting the health benefits of kiwi consumption and protecting the environment.
In 2025, Zespri plans to sharpen its focus on climate resilience and decarbonization technologies. Shih emphasizes that ZAG will prioritize one specific area each quarter, beginning with climate resilience. The fund aims to address both the physical impacts of climate change on kiwi orchards and the need for technologies that help reduce the carbon footprint of the industry.
Zespri’s approach to innovation is helping the company stay ahead of the curve in an increasingly competitive and unpredictable global market. By nurturing new ideas and supporting innovators, Zespri is positioning itself as a leader in sustainable agricultural practices.
“The first year of ZAG has been incredibly positive,” Shih adds. “We’ve connected with some brilliant minds from around the world and seen the potential for game-changing technologies. But we’re just getting started. The coming years will be crucial in helping us achieve our sustainability goals while continuing to deliver the world’s most delicious and nutritious kiwi fruit.”
As Zespri moves into 2025, the company is hopeful that its ongoing investment in climate resilience and decarbonization will pave the way for a more sustainable and productive future for the kiwi industry. With this focus on innovation, Zespri aims to lead the way in creating a more resilient, sustainable food system for the generations to come.
