Onions New Zealand has received support from the Ministry of Primary Industry's Sustainable Farming Fund to investigate ways to reduce the use of agrichemicals within the onion industry. The aim of the Onions New Zealand-led project is to focus on achieving sustainable onion production while reaching production targets and maintaining the onion industry's position as a world-leading onion producer and premium exporter. ''The New Zealand onion industry has a strategic target of 330,000 tonnes in exports by 2025-2030,'' Sally Anderson, of Onions NZ/Market Solutions said. The three-year programme will be guided by a Sustainable Production Leadership Group comprising 20 key industry personnel and researchers. At present the NZ Onion industry uses IPM including pest scouting, crop monitoring and targeted pest control.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 26, 2019 15:45 UTC