Agrichemical-Light Solutions for a sustainable future

Reducing on-farm inputs such as synthetic pesticides and fertilisers is a key part of reducing the environmental footprint of primary production. Producers face restricted access to chemicals driven by regulations, market access, customer requirements and resistance. These drivers are compounded by climate change, altering the distribution and activity of pests and diseases and increasing the risk of further incursions, affecting food security.

A collaborative response

Responding to these challenges requires multi-disciplinary science, close collaboration between researchers and those implementing the research, including co-development of fit-for-purpose solutions that work with emerging technologies, such as precision sensing and delivery systems.

Agrichemical-Light is an AgResearch-led initiative that aims to bring together AgResearch-wide capability and external collaborations to reduce inputs of synthetic pesticides and fertilisers in the primary sector.

The vision:
By 2050, Aotearoa New Zealand’s food and fibre products are globally trusted to meet the ethical values of producers and consumers through responsible, targeted and well considered use of biologicals and agri-chemicals in pastoral agriculture.

Key research targets

The scope and potential of the programme is large, encompassing alternatives to synthetic fertilisers, weeds, invertebrate pests and pathogens of plants and animals.

A prioritisation process informed by grower and industry needs, regulatory insight and market direction has been established to ensure focus on the most pressing issues. While not overlooking local and endemic issues, priority is given to addressing cross-sectoral issues with international reach.

Wide-ranging benefits

The benefits to Aotearoa-New Zealand will be realised through increased farm resilience, opportunities for increased economic returns by maintaining our reputation for safe food with low environmental impact, and social benefits including improved farmer wellbeing and rural employment. The development of a vibrant microbial products industry will create new export markets and develop local products for New Zealand’s unique problems reducing reliance on imported products. Our research will enable the development of viable alternatives to agrichemicals and match these to emerging delivery platforms, to maintain market access and increase economic returns.

Multi-disciplinary research

Agrichemical-Light has been co-designed with stakeholders and brings together a multidisciplinary team of researchers using a whole-of-system approach to develop agrichemical light production systems that incorporate a range of different technologies. These include plant and animal genetics, biological solutions (including biopesticides, biofertilisers, endophytes), emerging digital and precision application technologies, farm systems research, and social science to both inform the research and increase end-user uptake of new solutions and technologies.

Collaboration with industry partners allows co-development and scale-up production of biological technologies and working with end users will allow ground-proofing of technologies through field trials.