Farming with nature at ZZ2
A 20-year journey has validated their decision to transition from industrial agriculture to farming in harmony with nature. By Anna Mouton.
The family-owned ZZ2 group began thinking about a different approach to food production back in the 1990s. “We started to create a philosophical framework by making our own rules for farming economically, socially, and environmentally,” said Hendrik Pohl, Western Cape pome-fruit production manager at ZZ2.
They drew inspiration from living ecosystems and classical philosophy to forge what they call natuurboerdery — nature farming.
“Soil health was the first, and remains the most fundamental, area of change in natuurboerdery,” said Pohl. ZZ2 believed embracing diverse and complex soil ecosystems would promote healthy and productive plants. This included shifting from chemical to biological crop protection.
Natuurboerdery also encompasses water management. Pohl explained that ZZ2 measures water use on crop yields per cubic metre of water applied rather than the more conventional cubic metres applied per hectare.
The holistic natuurboerdery framework extends beyond crops to natural areas around cultivated land and all the people with who ZZ2 interact. “Healthy relationships with our stakeholders are integral to natuurboerdery,” said Pohl.
“We learn from nature that all forms of antagonism are expensive and to be avoided,” he added. “ZZ2 makes an effort to build positive symbiotic relationships with everyone we deal with.”
He summarised that natuurboerdery is a complete philosophical break with past industrial practices to make sustainable agriculture a long-term solution that benefits nature and people.
The start in 2003
In 2003, ZZ2 implemented its natuurboerdery philosophy in its apple and pear orchards by composting and mulching.
“We decided to apply 20 cubic metres of compost per hectare,” said Pohl. “We didn’t know what to expect from the compost, so we used scientific principles as we know how much nutrition our plants need.”
They calculated that 20 cubic metres of quality compost supplies approximately 60 kilograms of nitrogen — enough for a postharvest nitrogen application on a 4.0–4.5-metre conventional orchard.
“We stopped all fertiliser at once,” recalls Pohl. “That may have been a bit crazy, but we got away with it for quite a few years.”
Subsequently, ZZ2 switched to expressing compost quantities per linear metre to compensate for greater tree numbers in high-density orchards. They currently work on one cube of compost per 110 metres.
Besides supplying nutrients, compost provides a biological boost to the soil. After applying compost to the tree row, ZZ2 covered it with wood chips or straw mulch to shelter and feed the soil microbial community.
Pohl related that the need for consistent compost quality soon motivated ZZ2 to start a joint venture with Dutoit Agri called Lumbri Compost, which continues to supply ZZ2 orchards.
He noted that the two main risks of annual compost and mulch applications are excessive potassium and insufficient nitrogen. ZZ2 manages this by combining leaf and soil analysis with thorough crop load and visual tree assessments. Synthetic fertilisers are only applied when essential.
“Fully integrated management is the most important factor,” said Pohl. “We started to rely on what we observe in the orchard. We didn’t react — we checked everything before making any decisions, especially regarding plant feeding.”
The status in 2024
Taking control of the orchard floor represents the latest evolution of natuurboerdery. “We’re introducing more diversity through cover crops,” said Pohl. “Rather than recruiting resources from other areas, we’ve started to produce mulch in the orchard.”
Cover crops offer many more benefits than conventional wood chips or straw mulch. Trials at ZZ2’s Bokveldskloof farm showed that nitrogen-fixing plants can reduce the need for synthetic fertilisers.
“We can capture 30–40 kilograms of nitrogen per hectare with a good cover of medicks on the berm,” said Pohl. “We also recycle potassium in the orchard rather than adding more potassium with compost.”
Diverse cover crops fuel soil microbial and orchard insect diversity. Pohl is excited about the potential of cover crops to enhance crop protection by creating a favourable environment for biological control agents.
He has already seen this pay off. For the past 20 years, ZZ2 has not applied nematode or woolly apple aphid treatments to newly established or older orchards.
Furthermore, the soil-health focus translates into higher average yields and excellent fruit quality. Pohl shared their average yields over the past five years for some apple cultivars: 137 tonnes per hectare for Golden Delicious, 106 for Early Red One and Cripps Pink, and 96 for Royal Gala.
But Pohl wanted to be clear about one aspect. “Weeds are not a cover crop. They’re called weeds for a good reason — we don’t like them.”
Looking ahead
Pohl plans to continue increasing diversity and crafting welcoming habitats for the indigenous entomopathogenic fungi and nematodes that local research has identified. Woolly apple aphids are already suppressed naturally, and Pohl wants to further reduce or eliminate synthetic pesticides and herbicides.
He is also investigating all options to improve efficiencies, including introducing new rootstocks and cultivars and adopting new orchard designs.
“Everybody is already doing good work in these areas,” he said, “but we are still hanging on to the traditional conventional systems that we know and that produce good results. We need to explore new systems to truly be sustainable in the future.”
Pohl wants to challenge the very notion of sustainability. Sustainable is an adjective meaning to maintain at a specific rate or level. “To me, that seems like a motivation to find ways to keep doing what we are doing and, therefore, get similar results,” he commented.
He suggests that growers should instead think in terms of a verb — something actionable — like regeneration. Regenerating our agricultural systems involves introducing new and more vigorous life.
Farming should be for the environment instead of merely within it. Fruit growing that builds a healthy environment creates a virtuous cycle in which the environment, in turn, supports better fruit production.
In conclusion, Pohl invited growers to go on a coddiwomple — to travel purposefully to an as-yet-unknown destination. “Our pome-fruit industry is on a very exciting journey to an unknown destination,” he said. “Who knows what is possible with a little change and a little broader thinking?”
Watch Pohl’s presentation on the Hortgro YouTube channel.