Don't be afraid to try something new

Zespri Orchard Productivity Centre (OPC) is responsible for communicating science and best practice knowledge to around 2,500 New Zealand kiwifruit growers. The team is constantly challenging themselves on how to be more innovative and effective in disseminating information. The use of webinars to communicate in a convenient, timely way seemed like an obvious medium to try. To encourage greater learning and uptake of the topics presented, the team concluded that the best format would be to have groups of growers sitting together watching the webinar followed by a discussion afterwards on the implications for them as individuals. The OPC webinar programme proved to be very successful. The benefits included: facilitating engagement between scientists, industry, growers and other Zespri staff; consistency of message; growers across New Zealand having the opportunity to hear the same information at the same time; flexibility and timeliness so that information was transferred when it was most relevant.