Environmental insights for Agribusiness in 2020
Vineyard owners are among those well placed to adapt ahead of New Zealand’s transition to a low-carbon and more sustainable economy. In the mid-1990’s a countrywide programme was launched to show vineyards and wineries what environmental 'best practice' looks like. By 2016, 98% of New Zealand’s wine producing land was certified as sustainable by NZ Wine.
ANZ customers, Brent Marris and his daughter Emma Marris of Marisco Vineyards, have been leading the charge. Their strategies provide some great environmental insights for Agribusiness in 2020. Marisco Vineyards produce world-renowned brands such as The Ned and The Kings Series.
Here are two ways Marisco Vineyards has reduced its environmental impact while also improving financial returns.
1. Reduced reliance on nature
Invest in infrastructure to sustain your business as it faces an increasingly uncertain climate. Last summer’s drought in Marlborough was the worst in almost 20 years. The region received half its normal rainfall and the Marlborough District Council restricted water use. The result was a 2% drop in the volume of grapes harvested. Marisco Vineyards dodged this climate bullet by having already built their own dam, capable of holding 330 million liters (equivalent to 132 Olympic sized swimming pools) of water.
Find out more and watch the video here.
2. Reduced wastage
Climate is becoming more unpredictable and the harvest period is getting shorter. Marisco Vineyards has invested in GPS tracker technology that provides exact guidance on when each block of grapes is ready to harvest. This helps the team plan, reduce the number of people they need to harvest the grapes and ensure better long-term profitability by making sure as few as possible go to waste.
Find out more and watch the video here.