Creating Future Focused Orchards
In 2023, the Ministry for the Environment and NZ Apples and Pears (NZAPI) commissioned the team at Circularity to undertake research and create a visual design of a future orchard in 2030 that incorporates low waste and nature-positive practices.
Through this work we engaged the wider industry through interviews with growers, scientists, managers, retailers, innovation specialists and Māori representatives across the food system, undertook desk research and explored practices that could deliver ecosystem health, reduce harm and deliver prosperity to the industry.
During this project, we mapped the current orchard systems and co-designed a vision for the future with NZAPI and industry contributors.
Through this mahi, we identified —
challenges of the current growing system
opportunities for redesign
practices with improved environmental, social and economic outcomes
The research showed there was a need for a holistic view of the role of an orchard in its community, the soil, the water and customers far and wide, in the future.
Branching out from this mahi, we organised the insights into seven on-orchard practices with up to four key benefits - environmental, economic, climate, social and cultural incorporating principles from Te Tiriti.
NZAPI will use this visual design as a way to start a conversation about what a future orchard could look like with the industry – growers, packers, and marketers of apples and pears in domestic and export markets:
Copyright New Zealand Apples & Pears 2023
This project was researched and designed by Circularity, with support from the Ministry for the Environment and contributions from growers, scientists, retailers, innovation specialists and Māori representatives across the industry.
“We loved working on this vision with Circularity gaining lots of insights and an amazing visual that we can use to demonstrate the path our industry is working towards for a Future Orchard.” - Rachel Kilmster, NZAPI