One of Allegrow’s environmental consultants, Natalia Zefferino, has spent the past eight months working as an advisor to the Growing Change Project, led by Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ). In 2024, Allegrow was invited to take part in the initiative as an approved advisory service, supporting growers across the Gisborne region.
Growing Change is a three-year partnership between HortNZ and the Ministry for the Environment (MfE). The project aims to build capacity and capability within the horticulture sector, and provide enduring support for growers, to deliver Good Agriculture Practice (GAP) freshwater farm plans. The Growing Change project is funded through the Essential Freshwater Fund, administered by MfE.
As an advisor, Natalia’s focus has been working 1:1 with registered growers to help them complete their NZGAP-EMS (Environmental Management System) requirements and develop a prioritised action plan. The overall goal of the project is to ensure growers are making the most of the available funding to help them stay ahead of the upcoming freshwater farm plan (FWFP) regulations. By guiding them through the process now, we’re helping ensure that they are well-prepared and confident when these new requirements take effect.
Growing Change aims to deliver ten catchment projects to support growers to develop freshwater farm plans. The catchments are in key growing regions, from Northland to Otago/Southland. Allegrow was invited to provide advisory services in regions with higher water-related risks, such as Gisborne. The main grower types covered through the NZGAP-EMS are vegetables, apples & pears, citrus and avocados. Growing Change is also supporting kiwifruit growers to use the Zespri FWFP tool.
Growing change advisors support registered growers in completing the EMS add‐on (including mapping) and the Self Audit Checklist. Industry guidelines and codes of practice (CoPs) underpin the EMS add‐on and advisors must be familiar with these documents and competent to advise on appropriate implementation of the practices described in them.
The focus of the advisory service was spending 1:1 time with registered growers to complete their NZGAP-EMS and develop a prioritised EMS action plan. The project aims to help growers make the most of the available funding, supporting them to get ahead and be well-prepared for the upcoming FWFP regulations.
The feedback from growers has been positive, with many expressing their satisfaction with the project. It has been great to be part of this initiative and provide the support needed.
Natalia Zefferino
Environmental Consultant