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
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”