Zespri tackles how to future-proof kiwis for a changing climate

Zespri has released its first-ever climate change adaptation plan outlining how the kiwifruit industry intends to adjust to a changing climate in New Zealand and offshore growing locations. 

Developed in consultation with growers and the wider kiwifruit industry, the plan document — Adapting to Thrive in a Changing Climate — establishes a framework for the industry’s long-term strategy. The plan is a follow-up to Zespri’s Climate Change Risks and Opportunities Report, published in 2021, according to a news release.

“We know the climate is changing which brings challenges and opportunities for our industry and its important that we look at how we can ensure the kiwifruit industry remains climate resilient,” Zespri Chief Grower, Industry and Sustainability Officer Carol Ward said in the release.

Further, she said the plan reflects Zespri’s ongoing commitment toward transitioning to a low-carbon, climate-resilient future.

“Adaptation will be critical to our ability to provide our customers and consumers with great fruit from both our New Zealand and Northern Hemisphere supply in the years ahead, and to protect and enhance the value we’re returning to our growers and communities,” Ward said in the release.

In the plan, Zespri commits to acting not only to reduce the affect the kiwifruit industry has on the climate, but also to prepare for the effects climate change will inevitably have on growing kiwifruit, according to the release.

“Our industry is already experiencing and responding to climate change, with growers adjusting their growing practices in order to maintain and increase yields in light of the changing climate,” Ward said in the release. “This can be seen in the installation by growers of hail netting, the development and maintenance of shelter belts to help protect orchards from severe wind events and the use of irrigation to prevent vines from experiencing water stress or frost, with post-harvest facilities also adjusting the packing of fruit in light of warmer temperatures.”

The road map identifies the physical climate change risks the kiwifruit industry is likely to experience from orchards through the supply chain and across the packing, transportation and distribution of fruit. Additionally, Zespri’s plan considers transitional risks such as market and regulatory changes, which include factors such as emissions pricing, environmental labeling and changing consumer preferences.

“There’s a lot of work to undertake, but by coordinating our efforts as an industry we’ll be more effective and efficient, putting us in the best position to thrive as the climate continues to change,” Ward said in the release.