The A Lighter Touch Podcast

In this two part A Lighter Touch podcast series, the benefits and challenges of establishing understory planting in summerfruit orchards is explored. The first episode Why Plant Beneath the Trees? explains why the project began, how it was established and what the project partners hoped to achieve.The podcast dives into questions asked through the three-year Summerfruit NZ- A Lighter Touch understory project – what would happen if the ground beneath orchard trees became more than just a place to mow grass or control weeds? Could it become habitat for beneficial insects? Could it contribute to healthier soils? Could it help growers reduce mowing and pesticide use?In the second episode Results, Lessons and the Road Ahead the podcast delves into the results from the demonstration orchards, the challenges relating to management systems and infrastructure and how the project learnings have been shared to help other growers evaluate whether understory planting is something they might trial in their orchards.Across the two episodes we hear from members of the project team and three Central Otago growers who demonstrated this concept in their commercial orchards.Resources and more information: Summerfruit understory project resources are on the ALT website, and include a plant species guide, which provides a quick identification guide to the plant species used in the understory mix, and two soil testing guides. One focuses on how to interpret a soil test, while the other discusses how to carry out a Visual Soil Assessment.Download these guides:Summerfruit understory plant species guideHow to interpret a soil test guideHow to carry out a Visual Soil AssessmentFollowing the final season of the project monitoring, the growers involved shared their experiences and impressions in case study resources, including photo diaries of the establishment of the understory planting, and visual soil assessments from their orchards.Download the case studies:Case study: Summerfruit Understory Planting – Affleck OrchardCase study: Summerfruit Understory Planting – Fairview OrchardCase study: Summerfruit Understory Planting – Electric CherriesWatch the Summerfruit under-canopy planting project- the grower experience wrap up video on ALT YouTube channel here. For more information see the project page here.Resources developed from the Biodiverse planting in perennial crops project, in which citrus orchards were used as the model crop production system can be downloaded here. A podcast on this project can also be listened to (EP6: Redesigning orchards - Agroecology, conversation biocontrol and their use in perennial crops and EP7: Project spotlight - Biodiverse planting for citrus orchards.)

In this episode, Pukekohe vegetable grower Howe Young talks about the changes he’s made in the way he manages pests and diseases in his crops over the course of his almost 60-year career.Listen as Howe describes his journey from agrichemical reliance to integrated pest management decision-making, informed by crop scouting and use of biodiversity plantings as part of a crop protection strategy.He and advisor Olivia Prouse reflect on the importance of a strong grower-advisor partnership, and discuss how this has impacted on the management of crops at the Pukekohe Research and Demonstration Farm, where marketable crops have been harvested with fewer or in some cases no post-transplant spray applications.In the face of developing agrichemical resistance, incorporating biodiversity to enhance natural enemy populations isn't just about being more sustainable. It's about developing another tool to help maintain the ability to grow vegetables commercially in the future. Grower resources supporting implementation on biodiversity as part of integrated pest management (IPM) mentioned in the episode are available here, including "how to" guides, monitoring templates, case studies, plant species lists, and video resources from this project .Looking for more tools, tips, and resources on sustainable agriculture in Aotearoa New Zealand? Visit A Lighter Touch's website, sign up for our newsletter, or follow us on Linkedin.

In this second episode, more detail on the results from the four-year Zespri- Bioeconomy Science Institute, Plant & Food Research group, project, aligned with A Lighter Touch is shared. The project, brought together scientists, industry and innovative growers to develop an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy for managing Passionvine hopper in commercial orchards.Listen to learn more about how the three-pronged IPM strategy worked, the mindest shift for growers and the ongoing extension and knowledge sharing via multiple communications channels.Speaking during the episode are Mel Walker and Jessie Fea from Zespri, Cathy McKenna formerly of Bioeconomy Science Institute, Plant and Food Research group, and Bay of Plenty kiwifruit growers Lynda Hawes and Ian McBride.Grower resources on integrated pest management (IPM) mentioned in the episode are here. Visit the PVH project page here, where you'll find a video case study and more information on project results.Looking for more tools, tips, and resources on sustainable agriculture in Aotearoa New Zealand? Visit A Lighter Touch's website, sign up for our newsletter, or follow us on Linkedin.

In this episode, the first of a two part series, we explain the Zespri and Bioeconomy Science Institute (BSI), Plant & Food Research group, project, aligned with A Lighter Touch, it brought together scientists, industry and growers to develop an integrated pest management (IPM) programme, that's changing the way growers approach Passionvine hopper (PVH) control.Listeners will hear from Mel Walker and Jessie Fea from Zespri, Cathy McKenna, formerly of BSI, Plant and Food Research group, and kiwifruit growers Lynda Hawes and Ian McBride, all of whom have been part of this pioneering project. Grower resources on integated pest management (IPM) mentioned in the epsiode are here. Visit the PVH project page here, where you'll find a video case study and more information on project results.Looking for more tools, tips, and resources on sustainable agriculture in Aotearoa New Zealand? Visit A Lighter Touch's website, sign up for our newsletter, or follow us on Linkedin.

In the second episode, of the two part series, focused on the TomatoesNZ-A Lighter Touch tomatoes biocontrol project, we tell the story of this five-year project which has seen an industry shift from agrichemical reliance to biological controls.We follow the project journey, taking a native bug found in the New Zealand bush and trialling it in commercial greenhouses to develop a sustainable crop protection programme for two major industry pests, tomato-potato psyllid and greenhouse whitefly. Find more infomation on the Tomatoes biocontrol project page of the ALT website. Grower resources on integated pest management (IPM) mentioned in the epsiode are here.Looking for more tools, tips, and resources on sustainable agriculture in Aotearoa New Zealand? Visit A Lighter Touch's website, sign up for our newsletter, or follow us on Linkedin.

In this episode, the first of a two part series, we explain the science of augmentative biocontrol using a native insect.  This science underpins the A Lighter Touch and TomatoesNZ project to revitalise biocontrol of greenhouse pests, which was disrupted by the arrival of a new pest, the tomato-potato psyllid. Find more infomation on the Tomatoes biocontrol project page of the ALT website. Grower resources on integated pest management (IPM) mentioned in the epsiode are here. Looking for more tools, tips, and resources on sustainable agriculture in Aotearoa New Zealand? Visit A Lighter Touch's website, sign up for our newsletter, or follow us on Linkedin.

This second episode of a two-part series explores how introducing more biodiversity into the orchard can increase beneficial insect populations to help sustainably manage insect pests, and cut down on agrichemicals. This episode discusses the practical demonstration of the science on two citrus orchards in Gisborne.Links to the grower guides referenced in this episode:Guide 1: Establishing floral resources for improved biological controlGuide 2: Insect monitoring of perennial cropsGuide 3: Management and evaluation of beneficial plantingPlus, you can find many other resources, video tutorials and presentations relating to this topic here.Looking for more tools, tips, and resources on sustainable agriculture in Aotearoa New Zealand? Visit A Lighter Touch's website, sign up for our newsletter, or follow us on Linkedin.

This is the first of two episodes exploring how introducing more biodiversity into the orchard can increase beneficial insect populations to help sustainably manage insect pests, and cut down on agrichemicals. It’s a look at farming that works with nature, not against it.Links to the grower guides referenced in this episode:Guide 1: Establishing floral resources for improved biological controlGuide 2: Insect monitoring of perennial cropsGuide 3: Management and evaluation of beneficial plantingPlus, you can find many other resources, video tutorials and presentations relating to this topic here.Looking for more tools, tips, and resources on sustainable agriculture in Aotearoa New Zealand? Visit A Lighter Touch's website, sign up for our newsletter, or follow us on Linkedin.