Since 2003, the Agriculture Research Group On Sustainability (ARGOS) has been examining environmental, social and economic sustainability of New Zealand farming systems, including kiwifruit. The study sought to understand whether resources used to grow crops impacted on local biodiversity and soil quality, and if so, to what extent.
The ARGOS study found that New Zealand's Kiwifruit orchards are generally environmentally healthy with:
- Soils being well covered, structured and aerated;
- Key nutrients being abundant and stored;
- Active and abundant populations of earthworms;
- Microbes being present; and
- Making nutrients available for high quality fruit production.
Importantly, it also showed that eight percent of orchard land controlled by growers in the main kiwifruit growing area of New Zealand (Te Puke) is set aside as ecological refuge mainly in the form of exotic and indigenous forest, positively impacting on biodiversity.
Who is ARGOS?
An unincorporated joint venture between The Agribusiness Group (consultants), Lincoln University, and the University of Otago in New Zealand. ARGOS is largely funded by the New Zealand Government with significant support from industry stakeholders including ZESPRI.