Berliner Boersenzeitung - Zespri unveils ZAG, an innovation funding initiative rallying visionaries for a more sustainable future

EUR -
AED 3.980447
AFN 76.425222
ALL 100.74696
AMD 436.912951
ANG 1.954503
AOA 898.30222
ARS 392.937771
AUD 1.63805
AWG 1.950986
AZN 1.830865
BAM 1.951392
BBD 2.189653
BDT 119.291604
BGN 1.956511
BHD 0.408517
BIF 3089.061865
BMD 1.083881
BND 1.447842
BOB 7.493072
BRL 5.35958
BSD 1.08445
BTN 90.420727
BWP 14.694735
BYN 3.572763
BYR 21244.074583
BZD 2.185952
CAD 1.467548
CDF 2893.963137
CHF 0.945568
CLF 0.034096
CLP 940.808739
CNY 7.734791
COP 4357.744993
CRC 573.90347
CUC 1.083881
CUP 28.722856
CVE 110.826602
CZK 24.417627
DJF 192.627202
DKK 7.455584
DOP 61.557616
DZD 146.104707
EGP 33.515666
ERN 16.25822
ETB 60.374282
FJD 2.417869
FKP 0.85335
GBP 0.85786
GEL 2.92428
GGP 0.85335
GHS 13.017525
GIP 0.85335
GMD 73.026481
GNF 9326.799239
GTQ 8.494887
GYD 227.067023
HKD 8.471671
HNL 26.770562
HRK 7.632226
HTG 143.435958
HUF 380.062499
IDR 16783.360861
ILS 4.036401
IMP 0.85335
INR 90.413427
IQD 1419.884577
IRR 45807.532299
ISK 150.897687
JEP 0.85335
JMD 168.251448
JOD 0.768909
JPY 159.598269
KES 166.104771
KGS 96.78645
KHR 4462.339992
KMF 490.401878
KPW 975.493515
KRW 1421.153046
KWD 0.334865
KYD 0.903754
KZT 501.148586
LAK 22436.343756
LBP 16370.728438
LKR 355.899971
LRD 203.932469
LSL 20.170719
LTL 3.20042
LVL 0.655629
LYD 5.221253
MAD 10.92606
MDL 19.232551
MGA 4877.466372
MKD 61.637824
MMK 2277.344646
MNT 3720.175292
MOP 8.730676
MRO 386.945458
MUR 47.940177
MVR 16.648524
MWK 1825.799041
MXN 18.932167
MYR 5.051374
MZN 68.555442
NAD 20.171174
NGN 866.021711
NIO 39.848861
NOK 11.747209
NPR 144.673163
NZD 1.758159
OMR 0.417281
PAB 1.084445
PEN 4.050886
PGK 4.047103
PHP 59.990126
PKR 308.635039
PLN 4.329727
PYG 8045.897394
QAR 3.946141
RON 4.968535
RSD 117.329505
RUB 99.166197
RWF 1349.34541
SAR 4.065874
SBD 9.18692
SCR 14.326736
SDG 651.412944
SEK 11.299842
SGD 1.449853
SHP 1.318813
SLE 24.642059
SLL 21406.656447
SOS 619.442693
SRD 40.752891
STD 22434.155727
SYP 14092.607289
SZL 20.171012
THB 38.192721
TJS 11.84758
TMT 3.793585
TND 3.374176
TOP 2.555904
TRY 31.346388
TTD 7.35239
TWD 34.042565
TZS 2715.121734
UAH 39.655031
UGX 4115.702038
USD 1.083881
UYU 42.444503
UZS 13337.16012
VEF 3851696.775976
VES 38.51697
VND 26289.542296
VUV 128.697593
WST 2.90817
XAF 654.475427
XAG 0.044198
XAU 0.000533
XCD 2.929244
XDR 0.813969
XOF 651.412677
XPF 119.064483
YER 271.349422
ZAR 20.378705
ZMK 9756.23296
ZMW 25.836631
ZWL 349.009354
  • NGG

    -0.6300

    66.21

    -0.95%

  • BCC

    2.1800

    114.57

    +1.9%

  • CMSC

    -0.1300

    24.48

    -0.53%

  • SCS

    -0.0200

    12.44

    -0.16%

  • CMSD

    -0.2800

    24.05

    -1.16%

  • SLAC

    -0.0700

    10.27

    -0.68%

  • BTI

    -0.1100

    31.93

    -0.34%

  • RIO

    -2.1100

    69.05

    -3.06%

  • AZN

    0.2300

    65.02

    +0.35%

  • SCU

    -0.0300

    12.72

    -0.24%

  • GSK

    0.0600

    36.63

    +0.16%

  • RYCEF

    0.1060

    3.636

    +2.92%

  • BCE

    0.2900

    40.6

    +0.71%

  • JRI

    0.0400

    11.32

    +0.35%

  • RBGPF

    0.0260

    68.036

    +0.04%

  • RELX

    0.0300

    38.59

    +0.08%

  • BP

    -0.3900

    35.59

    -1.1%

  • VOD

    -0.1800

    9.04

    -1.99%

Zespri unveils ZAG, an innovation funding initiative rallying visionaries for a more sustainable future
Zespri unveils ZAG, an innovation funding initiative rallying visionaries for a more sustainable future

Zespri unveils ZAG, an innovation funding initiative rallying visionaries for a more sustainable future

The US$2 million annual fund will propel initiatives to help shape a thriving world through the goodness of kiwifruit

Text size:

SINGAPORE, Nov. 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Zespri, the world's largest kiwifruit marketer with over $US2.5 billion in revenue - managing around one-third of the industry's global volume - is proud to announce the establishment of a new innovation funding initiative, known as ZAG.

Powered by its purpose – to help people, communities and the environment around the world thrive through the goodness of kiwifruit - ZAG will play an important role in the company's mission. The US$2 million annual fund will support future innovation initiatives and global strategic partnerships that strengthen Zespri's ability to deliver on its purpose.

ZAG 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 growing demand for kiwifruit. Zespri is seeking forward-thinking visionaries, disruptors, dreamers, and darers to help it better innovate in sustainable agriculture, technology, automation, packaging, supply chain, logistics and industry education.

"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."

ZAG will support projects that are focused on four core priorities for Zespri: (1) Initiatives that are good for kiwifruit by driving superior quality and lifting on orchard productivity; (2) Initiatives that are good for people by promoting wellbeing through kiwifruit consumption; (3) Initiatives that are good for the environment by protecting and enhancing nature; (4) And finally, initiatives that foster a thriving kiwifruit industry, benefitting growers and the local communities they are a part of.

As one of the world's leading fruit brands, Zespri works with about 4,000 growers around the world to bring healthy and delicious fruit to more than 50 countries and has a set of long-term sustainability targets and goals.

Mr. Shih says ZAG will be closely aligned with Zespri's sustainability programme. "While we're making steady progress, such as a five percent reduction in our shipping emissions through improved charter vessel utilisation, we know it's new partners and solutions that will really unlock change."

"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."

Zespri is developing a science-aligned net-zero roadmap to 2050, has reduced the environmental impact of its packaging with 88 percent now recyclable, reusable or compostable, and last year released its Climate Change Adaptation Plan – Adapting to Thrive which outlines how the company is planning on adapting to the impacts of climate change to help growers.

Zespri has also continued rolling out global nutrition programmes designed to lift the consumption of fresh kiwifruit around the world and created 5 billion healthy eating occasions in  the 2022/23 season – well on the way to its goal of lifting this to 6 billion by 2025. It has also supported 35 healthy lifestyle programmes in over 12 countries since 2020.

"We're really excited about the potential ZAG has to increase our efforts in this space. We look forward to working with agri- and food-tech innovators as well as other solution providers, to help Zespri and the kiwifruit industry achieve an even brighter future," said Mr Shih.

To learn more or apply to the fund, please visit zespri.com/ZAGFUND.

About ZAG  
Zespri's purpose is to help people, communities and the environment around the world thrive through the goodness of kiwifruit. Zespri is launching the Zespri Innovation Fund called - ZAG a US $2 million annual funding platform bringing existing innovation resource together from across the business into a contestable fund.

ZAG, inspired by the Aramoana pattern of the Māori culture, symbolizes the pathways that rivers and oceans provide to many destinations. Through ZAG, Zespri seeks to collaborate with innovators and solution providers in the following four key areas:  

  • Good for Fruit: to drive superior quality kiwifruit and on orchard productivity
  • Good for People: to promote better human wellbeing through kiwifruit
  • Good for Communities: to enhance the lives of kiwifruit workers and growers
  • Good for the Environment: to protect and restore nature

(K.Müller--BBZ)