HUMBLE TO HERO NEW SEASON ACTIVITIES – GET INVOLVED

The ‘Humble to Hero’ Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures (SFFF) programme is a six-year partnership between Onions New Zealand and the Ministry for Primary Industries to transform the New Zealand onion industry.

Humble to Hero supports projects and workstreams around three themes: market validation and diversification, enabling value by providing assurances, and capturing value by sharing the onion story with food science and provenance claims.

The programme is now halfway through year two, with projects set up to support the new 2022–23 growing and export season.

Nutrient and beneficial analysis

What is the difference between the New Zealand onion and any other onion around the world? Identifying the New Zealand onion’s unique selling point is the first part of creating value for the product internationally.

Work on the constitution of the New Zealand onion was completed last year, but this season there will be increased testing to validate research findings. Onions New Zealand will be asking growers to support the project by sending samples from growing regions across the country. The cost of sending onions will be covered by the project.

Waste stream value-add research

Small, damaged or otherwise unmarketable onions provide little to no return for growers. Through the Humble to Hero waste reduction project, we aim to explore opportunities for value-added products that will support sustainability and grower return.

The programme has engaged summer student Grace Petersen from Otago University to identify the volume and characteristics of the onion waste streams across the region. Growers, packers and exporters are asked to participate in short interviews over the summer growing period.

Providing assurances and residue testing

Residue testing is ramping up for another onion season. As uptake to the programme increases, the onion industry becomes better equipped to face market access and regulatory challenges. Growers can submit samples regardless of whether onions are exported. A copy of results will be sent to participants.

Shipping best practice

Developing the tools and knowledge needed for exporters to ship onion products that arrive in market with the best quality and value is essential. This project intends to wrap up at the end of 2023 with a guide on shipping and storage settings.

This export season more shipping container trials will be sent worldwide with data loggers collecting data on temperature and humidity. The research provider will be working closely with onion exporters to ensure good data capture.

Trial shipment fund

Establishing, retaining and developing market access encourages increased and higher quality trade for New Zealand onion exporters. Without testing of market access, markets can close, regulations can be put in place, and the potential of the market is lost in the short term.

A trial shipment fund has been set up through this programme to support the costs of sending product to new markets. Applications are open for this export season.

Humble to Hero is a programme designed to obtain outcomes for the industry, and its success relies on industry support.

If you would like to know more or want be involved with the projects above reach out to Kazi at kazi.talaska@onionsnz.com