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A Transdisciplinary Design and Implementation of Sustainable Agricultural Principles in the Waikato Region of New Zealand
Author(s) -
Zyl Henk,
Roodt Jan Hendrik
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
incose international symposium
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2334-5837
DOI - 10.1002/j.2334-5837.2020.00745.x
Subject(s) - thriving , sustainability , agriculture , business , sustainable agriculture , fertigation , project commissioning , profitability index , sustainable development , environmental economics , environmental planning , environmental resource management , publishing , economics , political science , environmental science , geography , sociology , finance , social science , ecology , chemistry , archaeology , organic chemistry , nutrient , law , biology
The Ministry of Primary Industries in New Zealand, per the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, prioritised “increased sustainable resource use” as a critical success factor to ensure the wellbeing of New Zealanders. The challenge for a commercial vegetable farming operation is how to embed sustainable agricultural principles in operations to ensure a thriving, financially sustainable business. Of the 17 Sustainability Development Goals, 13 involve soil one way or an‐other and Target 15 (Life on Land) relates to soil health as an integral part of sustainability. A transdisciplinary systems approach was followed in a running agricultural operation to explore links between societal wellbeing, plant health and soil health while maintaining profitability and business resilience. The business used the client and policy‐centred outcomes for the design and implementation of a thriving enterprise. It showed that increased profit is achievable utilising a combination of fertigation techniques and compost applications for onion production.