Organic fruit growing network for the development and testing of resilient farm systems involving the entire value chain (Aufbau eines Bio-Obstbau-Netzwerk zur Entwicklung und Erprobung resilienter Betriebssysteme)

Project

Project code: 2824OE008A
Contract period: 20.02.2026 - 31.03.2031
Budget: 685,857 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research
Keywords: agricultural biodiversity, biological plant protection, insects, pome, climate change adaptation, fruit production, crop production, stone fruit, organic farming

Most German organic fruit farms focus on apples with a few main varieties and are therefore heavily dependent on the input of external resources, especially plant protection products, and are very susceptible to disruptive factors caused by climate change. The aim of the project is to develop regionally adapted strategies in a participatory process involving the entire value chain and in all major fruit-growing regions to increase the resilience of farms through less input-dependent cultivation and a greater diversity of robust apple varieties and pears, and possibly also apricots. In the area of apple varieties in particular, the market provides very contradictory incentives. Club concepts are increasingly leading to greater dependency on farms and exclude certain types of farms that are not associated with the appropriate marketing structures. In order to implement the strategies developed, an umbrella brand concept is therefore to be developed in cooperation with partners along the entire value chain in terms of content and expertise, which is open to all farms and enables a diversity of varieties on the farm. Strategies for improved soil and water management, the increased use of functional biodiversity and the optimisation of overall ecosystem services will also be developed. In addition, a ‘resilience check’ is to be integrated into the ZBG's farm comparison 4.0 based on the project results and a farm survey on current and planned future strategies for greater resilience. Knowledge of the side effects of plant protection products is a key tool for an optimised strategy that protects beneficial organisms. However, this information is currently only available to a limited extent and is sometimes contradictory. The JKI aims to collate the available knowledge, discuss it with experts and prepare it as an attractive offer for practitioners and advisors.

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