The sector of fresh fruit and vegetables is naturally concerned by the Varenne’s supply of water and adaptation to climate change, due to the nature of its products, fresh fruit and vegetables, which are sensitive to the weather during production and consumption. The sector of fresh fruit and vegetables, through its technical institute CTIFL, is strongly committed to these issues and has already undertaken a great deal of work. It is not asking for the active support from public authorities in order to pursue and develop this work.
The fresh fruit and vegetable sector is particularly concerned, as seen recently with the frost, hail and drought episodes for example. It is all the more concerned because its consumption also depends on the weather, as sales depend on the behavior of consumers, themselves sensitive to the weather!
Climate change: the proposals of the sector
For the past 15 years, CTIFL has been conducting many actions to identify the adaptation level of future varieties and rootstocks in arboriculture. It has been working, for example, on the need for cold weather. Winters are becoming more mild, so the varieties that really need cold temperatures to break dormancy will have a disrupted cycle. Experiments are also being carried out on the evolution of phenology in relation with climate and the impacts on the different stages of the plant (flowering, fruit set…).
Additionally, CTIFL accompanies professionals so they can consider establishing and marketing new species, besides the ones already present, which would be adapted to the evolution of climate and water resources, by taking into account the aspects of cultivation itineraries, packaging, shipping and sales, as well as quality/interest for the consumer and market-value for the sector. Controlling the climate of cold shelters is also a subject explored.
Regarding the implications on reducing climate change, the sector is working on limiting greenhouse gases in the fruit and vegetable itinerary by studying the evolution of energy in greenhouses and under covers (work on equipment, climate control in greenhouse and under cover), the production systems in orchards with high environmental performance, the work on fertilization (also integrating the issues of quality and sensitivity to bio-aggressors), and the measurement of carbon storage.
But there is still so much to do, and in such a short time
It is in our general interest to protect water resources, as well as to manage them sustainably and respect their natural balance. A number of actions should be implemented shortly to measure the resilience to various climate stresses (extreme temperatures in the summer, burns…). The research efforts focus on concrete solutions to save water. For this purpose, the needs for fruit and vegetables will be re-investigated, taking into account the pressure on the resource and its uses. Finally, taking part in the improvement of agro-ecological infrastructures (protection systems in orchards and field vegetables) is also part of the future work of CTIFL that will hopefully be financed and carried out.
These concerns are fully integrated and strategic for the sector, proof of it being a webinar scheduled for June 28th 2021 on the following topic: “after the frost, arboriculture is facing climate hazards.”
The CSR committee of Interfel is also conducting work on these topics and a team from the Experimental Research commission of Interfel will be set up in the coming weeks to offer proposals in the context of the Varenne’s water. A CTIFL team of experts will also be set up for its follow-up, in addition to the teams already mobilized on the adaptation to climate change.
Interfel hopes that the research and experimental work carried out on these topics will be strongly supported by the public authorities, because the importance of these issues cannot find solutions without a coordinated technical and financial approach.
For more information:
www.interfel.com
www.lesfruitsetlegumesfrais.com
www.ctifl.fr
Photo: Cheick Saidou/agriculture.gouv.fr