Tuesday, 05 December 2023 11:25

Zespri seeks top innovators

Written by  Peter Burke
Zespri chief executive Dan Mathieson. Zespri chief executive Dan Mathieson.

Zespri has begun a search for get some of the world’s top innovators and thinkers and has set aside more than $2 million to achieve this.

Called the ZAG innovation fund, the purpose is to attract innovative problem solvers from around the world to partner with Zespri to help them keep pace with an ever changing world.

Zespri chief executive Dan Mathieson says the pace of change is rapid right across the horticultural and primary sectors and it is becoming more challenging to grow a stable supply of great quality kiwifruit.

He says Zespri recognises that it’s facing some significant challenges and to overcome these it needs some of the best thinkers and innovators in the world.

“We need to tap into people and companies who can bring new technologies and ideas to help us accelerate our process to find solutions to some of these challenges – especially around climate change, fruit quality packaging, worker welfare and health and nutrition.”

Mathieson says while Zespri has done very well in this space in the past, it recognises that it has to do better. With that in mind he says it wants to partner with the best companies and people in the world who can find solutions and generate new ideas and technologies that will benefit the kiwifruit industry and the wider horticulture sector.

More like this

Government Backs $47.9m Kiwifruit Growth Programme

New Zealand's kiwifruit industry has welcomed Government co-investment in a new five-year programme designed to help growers produce higher yields of premium fruit, with less water, fewer nutrients and reduced environmental impact.

Featured

Ah Tatua, You've Done It Again!

Waikato milk processor Tatua has again declared a record milk payout to farmer shareholders, leaving other processors in the dust.

India FTA Unites NZ First, Greens

National’s much-touted free trade deal with India featured in the Rural Issues Debate at Mystery Creek, Hamilton on Wednesday night.

2026-27 Fishing Season Opens Across New Zealand

New Zealand's 2026-27 freshwater fishing season has opened, with anglers encouraged to head to rivers and lakes over the coming days as conditions look favourable across much of the country.

CODC Rejects Plan to Spread Sludge on Lauder Farmland

Central Otago District Council (CODC) has voted against a plan to spread treated sewage sludge from Cromwell and Alexandra on farmland near Lauder, a decision Federated Farmers says reflects strong opposition from rural residents.

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

'LinkedIn Greens'

OPINION: The same mainstream media muppets that brought you Jacindamania in 2017 have been flat out pimping for the Opportunities…

UK Warning

OPINION: Your old mate reckons the atrocious way farmers in the UK are treated by their lords and masters in…

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter