New Zealand kiwifruit marketer Zespri International has become one of the first international marketing groups to measure and make plans to minimise its carbon emissions.
Through a collaborative project Zespri, the New Zealand farm ministry, Landcare Research, Massey University, Plant & Food Research and AgriLINK have measured emissions from the orchard in New Zealand through to European consumers. The measurements align with the UK’s PAS 2050, which is regarded globally as a sound carbon-emission measurement tool.
Zespri’s study found that most of its emissions come from shipping (41 per cent) and that consumer consumption and disposal accounts for 22 per cent of all emissions. Orchard operations make up 17 per cent of the total, packhouse and coolstore processes 11 per cent and re-packing and retailer emissions nine per cent.
Lain Jager, Zespri ceo, said that the organisation will use this information to try and minimise emissions in the future. He said: “We are working with the industry on a series of initiatives to reduce our carbon footprint focused on the three key stages of the kiwifruit lifecycle that we can influence: orchard, packhouse and coolstore, and transport.”
New Zealand agriculture minister David Carter is hopeful that the project’s methodology will form the basis for other sectors to make similar calculations and improvements in their operations. He said: “This study brought together government, primary sector and academic researchers to apply an internationally recognised carbon footprint methodology to leading primary producers. It is now able to be used by producers and suppliers across New Zealand to assess current business practices and set in place changes that will ensure New Zealand retains a global leadership position in sustainability.”
Meanwhile, Zespri and Plant & Food Research are seeking expressions of interest from growers keen to take part in pre-commercial trials for new cultivars in P&FR’s kiwifruit breeding programme.
