Fruit Production

The Fruit Production group is active in research and advisory roles and works on advancing existing cultivation systems in organic fruit production. The aim is to improve production conditions in order to foster sustainability. The group’s activities and projects are conducted in close cooperation with practitioners as well as with partners and institutions along the entire value chain. In this context there is a further emphasis on exchanges at both the national and international levels with stakeholders working on the same challenges. The dissemination of knowledge generated through various communication channels is key to ensuring that organic fruit production can be supported optimally.

Work priorities

• Cultivation techniques: Activities regarding cultivation techniques cover topics such as direct and indirect plant protection, thinning or fertiliser use, to name but a few.
• Variety testing: New varieties or selections are tested under organic growing conditions. The plants are tested in the field with respect to their cropping properties, and fruit quality is also closely examined, with taste being a very important aspect. All this information is taken into account in the lists of recommended cultivars (for more information on the lists of recommended cultivars see below under "Links").
• Organic planting stock: Together with plant nurseries, work is being done on the further optimisation of domestically produced organic planting stock.
• Business management: The profitability of cultivation systems is key to the long-term success of organic top fruit and soft fruit production. To this end, business data from organic fruit growers are surveyed. These data are important for producers showing an interest in fruit growing and for advisors alike.
• Advice and extension: Existing and newly generated knowledge is disseminated via bulletins, courses, exchanges of experience, variety lists, technical guides, videos and other channels with a view to optimally supporting organic top fruit and soft fruit production.

Contact

• Michael Friedli