I recently attended an event at Forest Lodge Orchard to celebrate the arrival of a new tractor. 

Now, while that may seem odd, this isn’t just any tractor. In fact, it is the first fully electric and driver-optional tractor to be shipped outside of the US, and only the 66^th one manufactured ever. 

Wow! This was such a big occasion that it was attended by two sitting Government Ministers, local MP Joseph Mooney, and the President and co-founder of the tractor manufacturer, Monarch Tractors, who flew out from the US for the occasion. I can’t recall the last time two sitting Ministers attended an event in Central Otago (the opening of the Clyde Dam maybe?).

What made this such a big occasion was that the delivery of the electric tractor was the last piece of the puzzle for co-founders Mike Casey and Euan White (and their families) to complete their zero fossil fuel, all electric, fully sustainable energy-wise, Cherry Orchard. 

The orchard now runs highly effectively using only sustainable energy resources, the first to do so not just in New Zealand but the world. 

In a world where fossil fuel use needs to be reduced and sustainable energy must be focused on more urgently to prevent further climate change, this is a major step in the farming and horticulture sector, and it was done right here in Central Otago!

I was incredibly privileged to be invited and proud to see it all come together for Mike and Euan, as I know how hard they have worked to get to this point. I also know how many people they had to prove wrong – naysayers who said it wasn’t possible.

What Mike and Euan have done really is a world first and a huge milestone in building a more sustainable farming and horticulture model. 

Does it have a long way to go to seeing the whole sector convert to a sustainable energy? Yes, of course. But without people like Mike and Euan taking the leap (and risk) with fantastic innovative ideas such as a fully electric/sustainable orchard (that they have developed in a very short period of time, I must add), we wouldn’t even be this far down the track.

This is just another example of what I have coined ‘Central Ingenuity’, developing a fantastic innovative sustainable business operation that surely can only lead to further prosperity for our fantastic region and people.

To those operating in the sector deciding if they should take the plunge, all I can say is chat to Mike and Euan (even pop out for a look), as after doing so I think you will be struggling for a reason not to get on board.

Signing off as a proud supporter of the Forest Lodge Orchard team.