SINGAPORE, March 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Zespri, the world’s largest kiwifruit marketer, generating over $2.5 billion in revenue and accounting for one-third of the global kiwifruit supply, is reinforcing its commitment to sustainability with a renewed $2 million investment in the ZAG Innovation Fund. This initiative, launched in November 2023, aims to drive forward-thinking solutions that enhance productivity, promote carbon-positive practices, and strengthen climate resilience in the kiwifruit industry.
In its inaugural year, ZAG attracted over 100 proposals from innovators across 15 countries, with 11 projects progressing into pilot programs. The fund focuses on four key areas:
- Enhancing kiwifruit quality and orchard productivity.
- Promoting health and well-being through kiwifruit consumption.
- Protecting and improving environmental sustainability.
- Supporting a thriving kiwifruit industry for growers and local communities.
Early-stage pilots have already explored groundbreaking sustainability initiatives, including the application of biochar to boost orchard productivity while cutting emissions, technology that analyzes fruit’s chemical signatures to optimize harvest timing, and microwave sensing techniques for non-destructive quality assessment.
Reflecting on the fund’s progress, Jiunn Shih, Zespri’s Chief Marketing, Innovation, and Sustainability Officer, stated, “ZAG’s first year has been a tremendous success, connecting us with innovative minds worldwide to tackle key challenges in our industry. But this is just the beginning. As we enter year two, we are intensifying our focus on climate resilience and sustainable growth—one kiwifruit at a time.”
To further its mission, ZAG will now refresh its priorities quarterly, initially emphasizing climate resilience as part of Zespri’s broader goal to achieve carbon positivity by 2035. Future initiatives will also explore solutions that improve soil health, enhance water retention, foster biodiversity, and strengthen orchard sustainability, ensuring long-term productivity for growers.
With a network of over 4,000 growers supplying kiwifruit to more than 50 countries, Zespri remains committed to driving long-term sustainability. The ZAG Innovation Fund serves as a key accelerator in aligning the company’s environmental goals with industry-wide advancements, fostering a more resilient and sustainable future for kiwifruit production.
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