Organic targets set

Twenty per cent of vineyards in New Zealand will be farmed organically or biodynamically by 22, according to a new target set by Organic Winegrowers New Zealand (OWNZ). “By 22, even if we only achieve 2 per cent of the vinelands in our country as being certified organic and biodynamic, it will be a giant step towards enforcing our very precious environmental image to wine connoisseurs all over the world,” said James Millton, organic grower and winemaker, and chairman of OWNZ. Organic Winegrowers, a 14-member association, set the target after signing a Memorandum of Understanding last year to promote organic production through education, research and marketing — claimed as the first long-term commitment of its kind in New Zealand.