How Empak is Leading the Way in Sustainable Agriculture and Horticulture

In today’s world, where climate change is a pressing issue, every industry has a role to play in promoting sustainability. The agricultural and horticultural sector is no exception.

As an essential part of the global food supply chain, it is crucial for this industry to adopt sustainable practices to ensure a healthy and thriving environment for future generations.

Empak, a leading producer of agricultural and horticultural crop protection equipment, has taken on this responsibility with great dedication.

Let’s look at some of the reasons why agricultural sustainability is crucial and how Empak is making a difference.

The Need for Sustainability in Agriculture and Horticulture

Sustainable agriculture and horticulture refer to the practice of producing food, fuel, and fibre in an environmentally responsible manner.

This includes minimising the use of resources, such as water and energy, reducing pollution, and promoting biodiversity.

With the world’s population expected to keep increasing exponentially, there is a growing demand for food production. This puts immense pressure on natural resources and can lead to land degradation, water scarcity, and loss of biodiversity if not managed sustainably.

Furthermore, the use of harmful chemicals and pesticides in traditional farming practices can have adverse effects on human health and the environment.

That is why it is crucial for agricultural and horticultural companies to adopt sustainable practices to ensure long-term food security and protect our planet’s health.

Empak: A Pioneer in Sustainable Crop Protection

Empak has been a pioneer in promoting sustainable agriculture and horticulture practices since its inception. The company’s core values revolve around sustainability, innovation, and customer satisfaction.

Empak’s innovative crop protection equipment is designed to minimise the use of resources while providing efficient pest control solutions. Their products are made from eco-friendly materials, ensuring minimal impact on the environment.

Empak offers a range of sustainable products, such as:

Above Ground Safety:

Empak stocks a variety of quality above-ground safety products. This includes the innovative ‘Flag on a Rope’, which is a highly visible safety marker for land and crops. Additionally, we offer extruded Safety Barrier Mesh, designed to provide robust and durable protection for crops. For structural support, Empak provides Steel Y Posts, well-known for their strength and durability. To top it all off, Safety Caps are also available to ensure the safe installation and usage of these posts. All these products are designed to provide reliable protection whilst adhering to Empak’s commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility.

Coir Products:

Coir products are gaining popularity in the horticulture industry due in large part to their numerous advantages. Coir, derived from the husk of coconuts, is a renewable resource that is not only environmentally friendly but also biodegradable and compostable, aligning perfectly with Empak’s sustainability ethos.

Remarkably, Empak’s coir products can retain up to ten times their weight in water, a characteristic that boosts their value as an optimal medium for plant growth. This outstanding water retention capability reduces the need for habitual watering, thereby conserving a significant amount of water.

By providing an ideal balance of water retention and drainage, Empak’s coir products help nurture healthier, more robust plants while reinforcing the company’s commitment to sustainable farming practices.

Garden & Landscaping:

Empak, keeping its tradition of innovative and environmentally friendly solutions, offers high-quality weed matting that serves as a sustainable alternative to conventional herbicides. Weed matting works by blocking the supply of sunlight to unwanted orchard weeds, thereby inhibiting photosynthesis and effectively suppressing weed growth.

This method of weed control eliminates the need for hazardous chemicals, aligning with Empak’s commitment to sustainability and safer farming practices. These premium weed mats are woven with UV-stabilised materials, employing advanced technology to manufacture mats that are not only stronger but also of superior quality.

What sets our weed matting apart is its unique design that allows for maximum water flow through. This means more water reaches your plants instead of running off and causing soil erosion. Consequently, weed matting not only helps to control weed growth but also contributes to water conservation and soil preservation.

In smaller orchards, weed matting can be used in conjunction with mulch, providing an extra layer of protection for your crops.

Greenhouse Film:

Empak, in its commitment towards sustainable farming, introduces its UV-stabilised Anti-Virus, Anti-Dust Aster Plus Greenhouse / Polytunnel film. This premium quality product is available in two standard widths – 10.7 meters and 11.2 meters wide, but can also be made to order, thus offering farmers and growers greater flexibility. The film is suitable for a wide range of crops, such as Soft Berries, Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Capsicums, various Vegetables, and Strawberries.

We have crop-specific films available, further optimising your growing conditions. Our films are manufactured and tested in accordance with rigorous European Standards and are ISO-accredited, reflecting Empak’s commitment to quality, sustainability, and customer satisfaction.

Our selection of greenhouse films is designed with the utmost care to provide optimal light transmission, temperature control, and protection against the elements. We strive to ensure that your plants receive the ideal growing conditions that they deserve. Our catalogue offers a wide variety of widths, shades, and types of films, making them suitable for all types of greenhouses and growing conditions.

Horticultural Twine:

Empak continues to cater to its customers’ diverse needs by offering a comprehensive range of high-quality horticultural twines. Ideal for vine tying, training, and supporting a variety of fruit and vegetable crops such as Kiwifruit, Hops, Apples, Grapes, Tomatoes, Peppers, and soft fruits, our twine selection is specifically designed with the growers in mind.

Available in an array of colours and both single and multi-ended varieties, our horticultural twines offer growers the flexibility to choose the right product for their specific application. We ensure that our twines are consistent, reliable, and meet the highest standards for horticultural use, embodying Empak’s commitment to quality, innovation, and sustainability.

Polytunnels:

Empak has introduced its range of premium-quality polytunnels, offering growers the ideal growing environment for a variety of plants. Our polytunnels are designed, manufactured, and tested to European standards and are ISO-accredited.

Protective Cropping:

Caring for premium-quality fruit and vegetable crops in New Zealand’s harsh climate can indeed be a daunting task. Understanding this, Empak offers an extensive array of both permanent and temporary protective cropping solutions to combat these challenges. Our range includes Wind Break, Shelter Cloth, Shadecloth, Nettings, Galvanised Cable, and Structural Canopy nets, all designed to protect your valuable crops from various damaging elements.

These products provide a safeguard against the harsh effects of strong winds, such as wind rub and burn, frost, and hail, and also act as a deterrent for birds. With Empak’s protective cropping solutions, you can ensure that your crops thrive irrespective of the tough weather conditions. Our offerings exemplify how Empak supports sustainable and resilient farming, offering practical solutions that protect the environment while meeting the needs of modern agriculture.

Vine Netting:

Empak takes pride in presenting Over Row, a robust and versatile vine netting solution developed specifically for single-row drape over and multi-row net use. Available in either 30 or 39gsm options, Over Row is uniquely designed with either diamond or hexagonal hole shapes to optimise coverage and protection.

It boasts an exclusive raschel stitch, an innovative feature that significantly enhances strength and prevents runs, thereby ensuring a longer lifespan and greater reliability. Just like all of Empak’s offerings, Over Row Vine Netting underscores our commitment to delivering sustainable, high-quality, and innovative solutions for the agricultural and horticultural industries.

With Empak’s Over Row, growers can rest assured knowing their vines are adequately protected and their yield optimised.

Conclusion

As a leading agricultural and horticultural crop protection equipment producer, Empak takes great pride in its commitment to sustainability. Our products are designed with the environment in mind, helping farmers reduce their reliance on harmful chemicals while still achieving optimal crop growth.

We strive to offer innovative solutions that not only protect crops but also preserve the land for future generations. To find out more about our sustainable products and how they can benefit your farming practices, please visit our website or get in touch with our team. Let us work together towards a greener, more sustainable future for agriculture and horticulture.