08 - Fruit and berry cultivation

Programme manager

Programme director

Objective

To maintain the competitiveness of the Swiss fruit-growing sector by creating commercially attractive, high-quality products even under changing climate conditions. At the same time, minimise the negative environmental impacts of PPPs, substrate use and greenhouse gas emissions and in particular, protect water and soil as natural resources and preserve them for future generations. The objectives for a healthy national diet (food pyramids) are expected to increase fruit consumption. This growing demand should primarily be met by expanding domestic production.

• Specific objectives

  • Breed new robust, climate- and market-adapted varieties of apples, pears and apricots. Use modern methods of selection to accelerate conventional breeding based on genetic resources.
  • Implement and further develop variety testing to provide recommended varieties and rootstocks for apples, pears, apricots, plums, cherries, strawberries, raspberries and blueberries, taking account of abiotic stress factors and pests as well as regional market and growing conditions.
  • Develop new plant protection methods and strategies to combat the main fruit and berry pests, focussing primarily on established and new pathogens with high damage potential, to reduce the environmental risks associated with PPP use.
  • Develop resource-efficient production systems and crop management strategies to reduce pest pressure and water consumption, adapt to a changing climate, increase work efficiency, thinning out and combine energy generation with fruit production while maintaining yields and product quality.
  • Optimise storage methods to reduce storage and quality losses for fruit and berries, taking into account variety, harvesting time and new crop protection strategies.
  • Promote biodiversity and functions that are consistent with production, such as pest control and pollination. Perform integrated agronomic, economic and environmental impact assessments of production and cultivation systems.
  • Provide nuclear stock from virus-free material for vegetative propagation in accordance with the legal mandate.
  • Further develop fruit and berry cultivation in combination with agri-photovoltaics.

Expected outcomes

• The fruit and berry sector continues to produce and sell economically viable, high-quality domestic products even under future climate conditions.
• Reduced risks from plant protection products and measures to promote biodiversity result in a higher proportion of beneficial insects and pollinators in and around orchards.
• Water and soil resources are secured for future generations in the long-term; greenhouse gas emissions are reduced.
• Food loss is considerably reduced thanks to improved storage methods.
• Integrated sustainability impact assessments for different production scenarios in the three dimensions (agronomic, economic and environmental) enable the sector to make strategic decisions about its future development.
  

Projects

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