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Research: an Italian project involves a dozen POs

27/02/2024

François-Xavier Branthôme
Italy,
WPTC
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Following the implementation of the new CAP reform and the new intervention for the fruit and vegetable sector, Italia Ortofrutta-Unione Nazionale, in collaboration with its associated POs, has decided to support the setting-up of applied research projects within the framework of the fruit and vegetable POs' operational programs.

 In December, the Italian trade press revealed that among the various projects that have been launched, the one entitled "Integrated applied research project to tackle the main critical problems of tomato-based industrial products", due to start in 2023, involves some ten Producers' Organizations associated with the Union, including AOA, APOPA, APO GARGANO, APOC SALERNO, ASIPO, ASPORT, OP FERRARA, OPOA MARSIA, PRIMA OP BIO, TERREMERSE. Together, these POs represent over 20,000 hectares of processing tomato crops.

At the time of its presentation, the project comprised three project lines.
Line 1: Varietal comparison, under the scientific responsibility of the CREA-OF in Pontecagnano.
By developing this line of research, scientists intend to provide POs with a cognitive tool regarding the behavior of the most innovative varieties recently introduced onto the market or still with pre-catalog status, and/or resistant/tolerant to biotic/abiotic stresses. Thanks to this experimental approach, POs will have access to objective data, guaranteed by a third-party scientific organization, concerning the agronomic performance of new processing tomato varieties recently introduced, with genetic resistance/tolerance to biotic/abiotic stress, tested directly in their own fields using the usual techniques typical of the region of cultivation. Appropriate varietal selection, based on direct field experience, will enable POs to optimize their ability to plan supplies and gain a competitive edge on the market. As part of this line, seven varietal comparison trials were conducted during 2023, involving seven participating POs (see image below).

Line 2: Precision agriculture and optimization of input use, management of major plant diseases and pathologies, under the scientific responsibility of the CREA-OF in Pontecagnano.
The development of this line should make it possible to transfer innovation in precision agriculture to the sector's Producers' Organizations, along with information highlighting the economic and environmental impact of applying these innovative techniques.
Thanks to this experimental approach to the application of precision agriculture, POs will be able to increase the economic and environmental sustainability of their crops. Precision farming makes it possible to limit interventions in the field, thereby reducing production inputs and hence environmental impact. In addition to the CREA-OF, this line also benefits from the participation of the University of Florence to carry out an economic analysis assessing the practicality of this application. It also has the advantage of a technical partnership with IBF-Services, which has been supporting the CREA-OF in digitizing the pilot farms.
 

 
Line 3: Analysis of production costs for processing tomatoes, under the scientific responsibility of the University of Tuscia.
By developing this line of research, the various partners intend to carry out an analysis of production costs for processing tomatoes, in order to provide POs and their member growers with useful information for managing their businesses, and a tool for increasing competitiveness in the product marketing phase. POs will be able to obtain useful information to gain a competitive edge in product price negotiations, effectively increasing their market competitiveness and economic sustainability.

Some complementary data
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Source: progettopomodorodaindustria, corriereortofrutticolo.it