In this episode of the Fresh and Safe Podcast, Livia Esterhazy from A Lighter Touch highlights how agroecology is helping growers reduce reliance on synthetic agrichemicals while maintaining commercial yields and food safety standards.

Our guest explains how biological pest control, biodiversity planting, resistance management, and smarter decision-making are being trialled and adopted across New Zealand’s horticulture sector. From lettuce and brassicas to tomatoes and vineyards, this conversation shows what’s possible when farming systems work with nature instead of against it.

What You’ll Learn:

• What agroecology actually means (in plain English)
• Why pesticide resistance is forcing change in farming
• How growers reduced pesticide use by up to two-thirds
• The role of beneficial insects and biodiversity planting
• Why behaviour change, not technology is the real challenge
• How food safety improves when chemical use is reduced

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00:00:00 – Introduction

00:00:45 – Guest Introduction

00:01:05 – Guest Background

00:01:56 – A Lighter Touch program

00:06:57 – Agroecology

00:08:10 – Commercialisation of Agroecology

00:09:28 – Successful Trials

00:13:17 – Co-benefits of Agroecology

00:14:07 – Food Safety Outcomes

00:15:31 – Biggest Wins from the program

00:17:40 – Bridging the Gap: Theory to Adoption

00:18:03 – Supporting Behavioural Change in Farming

00:22:39 – How to Start Implementing Agroecology

00:23:22 – Resources and Communication Channels

00:24:42 – Concluding Remarks

Primary keywords

• agroecology farming
• lighter touch agriculture
• reducing pesticide use in farming
• sustainable crop protection
• biological pest control
• food safety in fresh produce
• agroecological farming systems
• spray free farming
• sustainable horticulture practices
• how to reduce pesticides on farms
• agroecology explained for growers
• biological control in horticulture
• resistance management in agriculture
• sustainable food safety practices
• biodiversity planting in orchards
• integrated pest management farming
• consumer demand for low pesticide food
• commercial scale agroecology