Leadership in Crop Protection
PGG Wrightson (PGW) is a partner of A Lighter Touch, an industry and government-funded initiative focused on sustainable crop protection. Born from a need for industry change, A Lighter Touch focuses on finding tools to support the horticulture, arable and viticulture sectors to move away from agrichemicals and towards an agroecological approach.
As A Lighter Touch’s first merchant partner, PGW is supporting the initiative by ensuring research and tools created by the programme are shared with farmers and orchardists throughout our networks. Our technical advisors will also provide advice and input to A Lighter Touch Projects, which carry out trials of biological product and ‘whole of farm’ approaches to pest and disease control.
What Is an Agroecological Approach?
Agroecology refers to a more sustainable approach to farming, using ecological principles within crop growing systems and practices. This approach reduces the reliance on agrichemicals, which is particularly important due to some regularly used crop protection products being phased out with limited replacements coming into the New Zealand market.
Coupled with consumer interest in chemical residue free produce, a move to agroecological farming provides an opportunity for New Zealand growers to increase the value and demand of exports.
Learn more about agroecology and explore A Lighter Touch projects on their website.
Sustainability at PGG Wrightson
Our partnership with A Lighter Touch aligns to our commitment to protecting New Zealand’s natural environment for future generations, outlined in our sustainability strategy. You can access our Sustainability Strategy to 2023, which addresses sustainability across three pillars; environment, social and governance below.
