Innovation Drives Creation Of World’s First Zero Fossil Fuel Orchard

Mike Casey, owner of the world’s first zero fossil fuel orchard located in Central Otago, will share his pioneering journey to fully electrify his six-hectare orchard at the New Zealand Agricultural Show in Christchurch on 10th November.

Forest Lodge Orchard’s entire commercial operation from New Zealand’s first electric frost fighting fans to irrigation, tools and vehicles is powered by electricity and via power that is generated and stored on farm using solar and batteries.

Mike is currently trialling a converted electric tractor and expects delivery of New Zealand’s first electric tractor next year. He says it is important not to let perfection be the enemy when it comes to making changes on-farm.

“We need to start by looking at the choices we make for things we can control like the equipment we use on our farms. I have gone ahead and done everything I can do to eliminate reliance on fossil fuels, but farmers can also adopt a step-by-step approach if they want to start going down the same path.”

One option for gradual change is to replace older equipment at the end of its lifespan with new electric equipment, says Mike.

“I know that not everyone can replace everything all at once, especially if they are not starting from scratch like we did so I think another way to look at it is when things need replacing.”

During his presentation Mike will provide itemised data showing the payback periods and the amount of carbon saved for the full electrification of his farm including upgrades for connecting to the grid and the purchase of frost fighting fans, tractor conversion and equipment, an electric sprayer, and an electric vehicle.

“For the full electrification of everything on farm there is an incremental payback of seven years and a full payback period of 13 years.”

The orchard harvested its first crop of fossil fuel free cherries last year and Mike says the key to improving the payback of electrification and solar energy is marketing a premium product which consumers are willing to pay more for and backing this up with hard evidence.

To help other farmers with this, Mike has created a new NZ0 certification which is independently audited by AsureQuality. This certification has strict rules around fossil fuels which means that food producers cannot offset their emissions but instead need to provide evidence of change regarding fossil fuel use.

“This is a vital part of providing consumers with an authentic certification because the words “carbon neutral” do not necessary mean that the consumers are getting a sustainable product.”

One of the key barriers to Mike setting up a fully electric operation was finding an insurance product that would cover the risk of power cuts to his electric frost fighting fans during the vulnerable spring growing months when young cherries must be protected from the hard frosts in Central Otago.

To be completely fossil-fuel free, Mike wanted to avoid using a diesel-powered backup generator, struggled to find an insurance provider that would protect his business against the risk to his crops posed by power cuts until he started working with GSI Insurance Partners Christchurch director Sean Lysaght and Vero to create an innovative insurance policy that met his unique needs.

“When you are determined to create real change and do it on a large scale you need to remove the blocks that might stop others from following you.”

When Sean started working with Mike to create an insurance product to fit the unique circumstances, he needed to find an insurance underwriter who would be willing to think creatively about the situation.

“We approached Vero, and they were willing to collaborate with us to create a new and innovative insurance policy that would cover Mike for any loss of product due to power cuts.”

After spending around 18 months fine tuning the insurance policy which used interruption cover as a base, Sean and Vero created a solution that fits Mike’s unique situation. Sean believes more farmers will be seeking tailored insurance solutions in the future as they move towards implementing sustainable farming to mitigate environmental issues.

Mike will be speaking at the Vero tent at the New Zealand Agricultural Show at 10am on Thursday 10th November. He is also happy for farmers to visit his cherry orchard and has already shown over 1000 farmers around his farm.

“I am always keen to share what I have done with others. If we can plant a seed of change then the climate will thank us later.”

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