Sustainable production is no longer optional—it’s a requirement. Our Food, Fibre and Nature solution helps land managers respond to this challenge by combining advanced monitoring with deep ecological insight. We work alongside agricultural, horticultural, forestry and natural area management clients to reduce environmental risk, enhance productivity and protect the long-term viability of working landscapes.
The challenge
Too often, land decisions are made without the visibility needed to manage risk or improve outcomes. Productivity pressures push monitoring to the sidelines, while early signs of stress or degradation go unnoticed until the damage is widespread. Many land managers rely on sporadic site visits or legacy assumptions, rather than rapid, quantitative and objective evidence.
Without early insight, there’s limited control. We change that.
Our approach
This solution provides scalable, science-backed tools that help clients detect issues earlier, manage resources more effectively and align land use with both economic and ecological goals. By combining airborne data, AI analytics and in-field validation, we deliver clear insights that support confident planning and responsive action.
What we deliver
- Early detection of canopy stress, disease, or dieback before it impacts yield
- Baseline vegetation temporal change condition maps for long-term benchmarking
- Growth tracking tools for plantations and cropping systems
- Field validation and expert analysis to support on-ground decisions
- Sustainability reporting that meets investor and regulatory expectations
Who it’s for
- Commercial growers and plantation owners
- Sustainable agriculture programs
- Forestry operators and cooperatives
- Government bodies overseeing productive landscapes
- Natural resource managers balancing use with conservation
What we deliver
- Early detection of canopy stress, disease, or dieback before it impacts yield
- Baseline vegetation temporal change condition maps for long-term benchmarking
- Growth tracking tools for plantations and cropping systems
- Field validation and expert analysis to support on-ground decisions
- Sustainability reporting that meets investor and regulatory expectations
Who it’s for
- Commercial growers and plantation owners
- Sustainable agriculture programs
- Forestry operators and cooperatives
- Government bodies overseeing productive landscapes
- Natural resource managers balancing use with conservation
Te Roroa Group NZ
The challenge
The magnificent Kauri (Agathis australis) forests of Aotearoa NZ are under threat from soil-borne pathogens belonging to the genus Phytophthora. Within the Waipoua forest of Northland resides some specimens over 2500 years of age, including Tane Mahuta, the Lord of the Forest. Traditional ground-based methods of measurement pose threats through potential spread of this soil-borne pathogen, but they are also incredibly difficult and time-consuming due to the high-density forest.
The solution
ArborCarbon initially acquired 3 x 4HA areas over the Lord of the Forest, and other elder trees, using 3 different UAV and sensor combinations, including a Hyperspectral camera. Several years later, we were engaged to acquire data over more than 9000 HA of the entire forest, using ArborCam® onboard a fixed wing, crewed aircraft. We identified each Kauri tree through our ML algorithms, and delineated each tree for VCI benchmarking of condition.
The impact
This has provided Te Roroa group and other stakeholders with an incredible database of tree location, size, and condition for future monitoring of impacts and management. This outcome would have been unachievable using traditional, ground-based methods, and cost-prohibitive. It has developed a baseline for future monitoring of condition change across the entire forest.
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Outcomes that matter
- Faster diagnosis of abiotic and biotic stress
- Higher survival rates and better resource use
- Confidence in long-term viability
- Stronger compliance and sustainability reporting
- Integration with carbon and biodiversity metrics