The apple industry in South Tyrol: an example of ... · Prof. Massimo Tagliavini Faculty of Science and Technology The apple industry in South Tyrol: an example of successful agriculture

Prof. Massimo Tagliavini

Faculty of Science and Technology

The apple industry in South Tyrol:

an example of successful agriculture in a mountain

area

Berlin, February 5 2014

South Tyrol Distribution of the land

according to its elevation (a.s.l.)

Agriculture in South Tyrol FACTS

• Generates about 4.2% of the total income.

• Employs about 6.1 % of the working population.

• Small farms (82% below 10 ha)

• Family enterprises

• Only very few farms ran our of business in the last 10 years (number of farms relatively stable)

Total land 7400 km2

Agricultural land 2860 km2 (+ 1980 km2 forest) Apple production ~ 180 km2 (18000 ha)

Major apple districts: below within oval-shaped areas

Arable land distribution in South Tyrol

Agricultural gross product in South Tyrol

Apple production FACTS

• Total production ~ 1 million tons/year

• High yields ~ 60 tons/(ha*year)

• >18,000 ha

• ~ 7200 farms

• average apple farm: 2.5 ha

• ~ 650 million Euro/year: total business of the apple industry

Approximately: 1 million tons of apples

Strengths of the South Tyrolean apple industry

• Suitable environment

• Technical issues

• Organizational issues

Sun: ~ 2000 hours sun/year (light for photosynthesis) Suitable temperatures: often warm days-cool nights, especially approaching harvest (fruit color, sugars and shape) Water available for irrigation and frost control

Golden delicious apples develop characteristics “mountain traits”: 1.Red blush 2.Elongated shape 3.Little russeting 4.Crispness and aroma

Golden from mountain areas

Golden from plain

Strengths of the South Tyrolean apple industry

• Suitable environment

• Technical reasons

• Organizational issues

Examples:

• Rootstocks and training systems

• Regulation of yields through pruning and thinning

• Introduction of new varieties/clones

• Plant protection according to integrated/organic guidelines

• Frost protection with overhead irrigation

• Nursery material

• Post-harvest technology

Innovations rapidly and diffusely widespread throughout the production chain

Strengths of the South Tyrolean apple industry

• Suitable environment

• Technical reasons

• Organizational issues

Network around the apple (1)

Varietal innovation Consortium (SK South Tyrol): introduction of new varieties/clones.

Consortium of nurseries (KSB): certified-high quality tree material .

Independent Advisory Board (Südtiroler Beratungsring für Obst- und Weinbau).

Applied research oriented to solve/prevent problems in the field and in post-harvest (Laimburg Exp. Center).

Fundamental research at the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano.

Network around the apple (2)

Workgroup for Integrated Fruit Production in South Tyrol (Agrios), issuing guidelines.

Growers’ trade union able to stand for (and stand up for) the sector.

Cooperation (92% of apple marketed through cooperatives)

• allowed strategic investments in infrastructures,

• allows effective marketing and commercialization strategies

• allows lowering production costs through machinery sharing.

Education (agricultural high schools and University).

Life-long learning training, conferences, events.

Challenges for the future

• Maintaining/enhancing the sustainability of the production (use of resources, potential risks of pollution, carbon footprint, etc.)

• Reduction of production costs

• Maintaining/enhancing the fruit quality

• New production areas

• New apple varieties

• New markets

Thanks for your attention!

Prof. Massimo Tagliavini Faculty of Science and Technology Free University of Bozen-Bolzano

Bolzano, Italy [email protected]

Visit

http://www.unibz.it/en/sciencetechnology/progs/master/international_horticulture/default.html

to learn more about the “International Master in Horticultural Science” with a curriculum in “Sustainable Fruit Production”