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The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) believes the solutions to climate change lie in nature-based solutions, many of which can be achieve through strategic partnerships that enhance biodiversity. Protecting and restoring nature can have a profound impact on the capacity to reduce carbon emissions quicker, and given philanthropic investment, farmers could become key players in biodiversity development.
New Zealand and Chile are both countries renowned for their winemaking and while they may compete on who makes the best Pinot, there exists a great opportunity for collaboration on sustainability. Across Chile and New Zealand, some winegrowers are taking action to become more sustainable and reduce their environmental impact through regenerative agriculture, wildlife conservation & restoration, renewable and efficient energy & transport, and becoming advocates for cultural change. In Chile, Viña Tarapacá has partnered with the University of Chile to measure carbon-capture capacity for its wildlife corridor initiative that reconnects the 2,000 hectares of land across the viticultural operations on the land between the Maipo River and the Altos de Cantillana mountains. Not only does this encourage enhanced biodiversity and carbon sequestration in the area through native reforestation, but it also demonstrates their business commitment to honouring the land on which their production is based.
In Aotearoa, there is an industry-wide movement led by the national wine body, with many NZ growers choosing to demonstrate their commitment through standards and certifications. Yealands is a Malborough carbon-zero winery, with biodiversity initiatives such as a butterfly gully to enhance pollination, wetlands restoration, agricultural use of sheep and pigs for weed and waste management, and native plantings and wildflowers. In addition, they are moving toward renewable energy and waste minimisation to holistically account for their impact of production and consumption.
With increasing legislation and regulations in both markets likely to impact farmers in future, the key to change must happen at the farmgate to encourage alternative ways of agriculture that enhance the environment rather than compete with it. New Zealand and Chilean wine growers might benefit from sharing best-practices and knowledge to protect the local land and biodiversity for the future sustainability of wine and thriving life on Earth.