Zeus kiwi is implementing a new investment plan started in 2021 to be completed in 2025. According to Christina Manosis, marketing and sales director for the Greek kiwi exporter, it will increase their storage capacity significantly: “Our investment involves the construction of new Controlled Atmosphere chambers, using clean energy, in turn reducing our carbon footprint. So far, we’ve built four CA rooms and two more will be constructed in 2023, with a total storage capacity of 2000TN. Our investment plan is valued at 3,000,000 euro.”
Manosis states that Zeus’ philosophy is highly linked with environmental consciousness and so environmental measures could not be left out in their new investment plan: “The importance of environmental management has been realized since the early days of operation of Zeus Kiwi, as we’ve pioneered environmental certification in Greece. First, the local environmental effects of kiwi cultivation were given priority as they were more easily appreciated by kiwi growers as well as the local community. Monitoring and continuous improvement of environmental performance with regard to local effects drove us to establish a low input type of kiwi farming. The next step in that process has been to examine the effects of this farming to the environment of more global concern, especially those related to global warming, acidification ozone depletion and such, in a ‘cradle to gate’ sense. Later, we undertook an in-depth analysis of the entire cycle, including the consumption of kiwis in the markets of its present and future interests.”
“The Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) of the International EPD System was chosen as the vehicle for communication of the results of this ‘cradle to grave’ Life Cycle Assessment to the market. The importance of EPD in our view, is that it gives a platform to assess a broad battery of environmental impact categories, from the widely appreciated Carbon Footprint, to the effects that are most important for the local environment, such as water use and eutrophication. So, it is suitable to serve both the external communication with markets of universal interests and a means to further motivate kiwi growers to do more about their attractive local landscape, which includes marvelous beaches and the famous mountain resorts of Mt Olympus.”
Next up in terms of investment is the installation of more solar panels to ensure their energy is as clean as can be, Manosis explains: “The first edition of the Zeuw kiwi EPD in kiwifruit was published in 2012, our statement has last been updated in April of 2022, aiming for an even lower environmental impact in the upcoming years. We’ve already installed solar panels this year, which will be able to produce 30 per cent of our total annual consumption and we will install another 650Kw in 2024, so as to secure 60 per cent of total annual energy consumption with clean energy.”
Having all this in place for the cultivation of kiwifruit, Zeus now plans to repeat the process for the crimson table grapes: “Following the EPD in kiwifruit, we have already scheduled to publish another EPD for our crimson seedless grapes. We plan to do all the analysis and measures in the coming months, so as to have the life cycle available by the end of 2023. We’ve always understood the importance of environmental actions within an investment plan. Even more nowadays when climate change has significantly influenced the agricultural sector.”
For more information:
Christina Manosis
Zeus Kiwi SA
Tel. +30 2351 053559
Dir. Line +30 2351 045395
Email: [email protected]
www.zeuskiwi.gr