(L-R) Kylie Horomia, Head of Industry Transformation and Sarah Kennelly, Graduate IoT Engineer
WayBeyond has taken up the sustainability challenge for Earth Day 2021 with a long-term focus on reducing food waste and
optimizing natural resources.
“Earth Day is one of the oldest and largest global movements when it comes to positive environmental changes. The 22
April event is supported by 75,000 partners in over 190 countries all focused on positive action for our planet, which
resonates strongly with our personal Vision of sustainable crop production,” says Head of Industry Transformation Kylie
Horomia.
“The AgTech sector has a key role to play, and Earth Day is a great time for everyone in our industry to stop and think
about what changes they want to make that can support a sustainability agenda for the long-term.”
Since 1970, Earth Day has been central to significant environmental events including the signing of the Paris Agreement,
U.S. legislation for Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species Acts, the establishment of Climate Literacy Campaigns
in schools, Green School Funding and Global Cleanup events at rivers, beaches and communities.
Earth Day has also become a positive movement for young students and those embarking on their agricultural careers.
“Environmental awareness is part of our everyday lives and is normalized within my Gen-Z age group. We are used to
carrying our own ‘Keep Cups’, reusable bags and exercise our buying power based on the sustainability of products,
services and businesses,” explains Graduate IoT Engineer Sarah Kennelly.
“Through social media and other platforms, we learn about sustainability and how technology plays its part. Mobile apps
are a big part of this, you can currently get apps where you can buy food which would otherwise go to waste and others
which let you track your carbon footprint. This will all play a role in the future of our agricultural industry. We are
the future of food and the production, distribution and consumption of that will transform over the next 10 to 15
years.”
With team members based in New Zealand, the United States and the Netherlands; WayBeyond is looking further than one day
to create long term sustainable practices.
“All activities our team can do personally is fantastic especially if they become permanent changes. From a business
perspective Earth Day also aligns with the existing work we are doing towards supporting the United Nations
Sustainability Goals and those customers who value a sustainable approach,” says Ms Horomia.
“When you look at the biggest challenges facing the planet, they can seem overwhelming but as we have seen in the past,
a movement of people working together can make a huge positive impact.”
Earth Day 2021 activities run from April 20-22 - https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2021/