NEW ZEALAND - Curious about the latest move driving growth for Zespri™? The kiwifruit provider’s latest announcement recently unveiled the establishment of a new innovation funding initiative: ZAG.

“We have a very clear focus on creating sustainable long-term value for our growers, and ZAG will enable us to partner with other innovators to explore ways to do this, whilst also helping restore nature and moving us to a place where healthy eating is a well-established habit,” said Jiunn Shih, Chief Marketing, Innovation, and Sustainability Officer. “We want to be the ZAG the food system needs. Our ambitions are greater than our capabilities, and with this in mind, we are inviting others to partner with us to help solve challenges that impact our fruit and the wellbeing of people, communities, and the environment.”

According to a recent press release, the ZAG initiative will play an important role in the company’s mission. The $2 million USD annual fund will support future innovation initiatives and global strategic partnerships that strengthen Zespri’s ability to deliver on its purpose: to help people, communities, and the environment around the world thrive through the goodness of kiwifruit.

The ZAG initiative will support projects that are focused on four core priorities for Zespri:

• Initiatives that are good for kiwifruit by driving superior quality and lifting orchard productivity
• Initiatives that are good for people by promoting well-being through kiwifruit consumption
• Initiatives that are good for the environment by protecting and enhancing nature
• Initiatives that foster a thriving kiwifruit industry, benefitting growers and the local communities they are a part of

“While we’re making steady progress, such as a five percent reduction in our shipping emissions through improved charter vessel utilization, we know it’s new partners and solutions that will really unlock change,” added Shih. “We’re inspired by our growers and supply chain partners who are prototyping actions as part of our carbon-neutral trial. And we’re pushing forward a partnership approach on shipping by asking other businesses and governments to come with us, so we can stimulate the demand that’s needed to accelerate the deployment of greener solutions.”

As the release continued, the ZAG initiative is designed to attract innovative problem-solvers from around the world who can help address some of the key challenges the industry faces as it meets the growing demand for kiwifruit.

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