We have now completed the SummerGreen meetings in Havelock North, Blenheim and Alexandra. One of the items discussed was a progress report on the A Lighter Touch agroecology understory planting project, which is being hosted by Citrus NZ in Gisborne. After the meetings, a good level of interest was expressed by some of the growers, with a few expressing a level of skepticism as well.
Summerfruit NZ has the opportunity to be involved in the next phase with plantings to commence this spring.
A Lighter Touch is the pan-horticulture sector programme that is leading this work. It has published some information that will help inform where we might be going. Have a look here for an understanding of what might be involved.
All plantings will be tailored to suit each individual grower, and there will be orchard-level science wrapped around these trials.
Some of the project’s drivers are responding to market forces and regulatory change, plus improving best practice, including:
· Growing in a glyphosate free environment
· The loss of broad-spectrum insecticides
· Increasing bio-diversity in our largely two-species orchards (stonefruit and grass)
· The leaching, sediment, compaction, infiltration and runoff space.
At this point, we are asking for expressions of interest from all growing areas and would welcome a response to research@summerfruitnz.co.nz
If you’d like to chat about what might be involved, please contact Richard Mills or phone 021 632 559