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Turning Moths and Biochar Into Climate Solutions: Zespri’s Agri-Tech Playbook

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Manage episode 483949469 series 2805813
Content provided by Tom Raftery. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Tom Raftery or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

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In this week's episode of the Climate Confident podcast, I’m joined by Bryan Parkes, Head of Innovation Acceleration at Zespri, the world’s largest marketer of kiwifruit. Bryan shares how Zespri is taking a bold, practical approach to climate resilience through its Zespri ZAG Innovation Fund - an annual US$2 million commitment to agricultural innovation funding.

We dig into why Zespri is using a venture clienting model—not venture capital—to attract global solutions for the kiwifruit industry. Instead of taking equity, they offer grants and technical support to agri-tech startups, making it easier to pilot and apply new ideas quickly.

From using moth-inspired biosensors to detect rot early, to field trials of biochar for long-term carbon storage and soil health, Bryan outlines how they’re making sustainable agriculture grants work in the real world. We also discuss how this work aligns with Zespri’s ambition to become carbon positive by 2035, and how many of the solutions being tested could be transferable across other crops and food systems.

If you’re involved in agri-tech, sustainability, or food innovation, this conversation offers deep insights into one of the most hands-on approaches to funding for agri-tech startups. It’s a look into a funding model that prioritises environmental sustainability grants and scalable impact over PR hype.

Keywords: Zespri ZAG Innovation Fund, agricultural innovation funding, sustainable agriculture grants, kiwifruit industry innovation, climate resilience funding, funding for agri-tech startups, environmental sustainability grants, agri-tech funding opportunities, Innovation Fund, agritech support.

Support the show

Podcast supporters
I'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's amazing supporters:

  • Lorcan Sheehan
  • Jerry Sweeney
  • Andreas Werner
  • Stephen Carroll
  • Roger Arnold

And remember you too can Support the Podcast - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent Climate Confident episodes like this one.
Contact
If you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - get in touch via direct message on Twitter/LinkedIn.

If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover the show.
Credits
Music credits - Intro by Joseph McDade, and Outro music for this podcast was composed, played, and produced by my daughter Luna Juniper

  continue reading

221 episodes

Artwork
iconShare
 
Manage episode 483949469 series 2805813
Content provided by Tom Raftery. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Tom Raftery or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

Send me a message

In this week's episode of the Climate Confident podcast, I’m joined by Bryan Parkes, Head of Innovation Acceleration at Zespri, the world’s largest marketer of kiwifruit. Bryan shares how Zespri is taking a bold, practical approach to climate resilience through its Zespri ZAG Innovation Fund - an annual US$2 million commitment to agricultural innovation funding.

We dig into why Zespri is using a venture clienting model—not venture capital—to attract global solutions for the kiwifruit industry. Instead of taking equity, they offer grants and technical support to agri-tech startups, making it easier to pilot and apply new ideas quickly.

From using moth-inspired biosensors to detect rot early, to field trials of biochar for long-term carbon storage and soil health, Bryan outlines how they’re making sustainable agriculture grants work in the real world. We also discuss how this work aligns with Zespri’s ambition to become carbon positive by 2035, and how many of the solutions being tested could be transferable across other crops and food systems.

If you’re involved in agri-tech, sustainability, or food innovation, this conversation offers deep insights into one of the most hands-on approaches to funding for agri-tech startups. It’s a look into a funding model that prioritises environmental sustainability grants and scalable impact over PR hype.

Keywords: Zespri ZAG Innovation Fund, agricultural innovation funding, sustainable agriculture grants, kiwifruit industry innovation, climate resilience funding, funding for agri-tech startups, environmental sustainability grants, agri-tech funding opportunities, Innovation Fund, agritech support.

Support the show

Podcast supporters
I'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's amazing supporters:

  • Lorcan Sheehan
  • Jerry Sweeney
  • Andreas Werner
  • Stephen Carroll
  • Roger Arnold

And remember you too can Support the Podcast - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent Climate Confident episodes like this one.
Contact
If you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - get in touch via direct message on Twitter/LinkedIn.

If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover the show.
Credits
Music credits - Intro by Joseph McDade, and Outro music for this podcast was composed, played, and produced by my daughter Luna Juniper

  continue reading

221 episodes

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