EUBERRY

"The sustainable improvement of European berry production, quality and nutritional value in a changing environment: Strawberries, Currants, Blackberries, Blueberries and Raspberries."

 Partecipanti

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 Word cloud

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The main objective of the EUBerry project is to provide the necessary knowledge and tools to facilitate development of high quality, consumer-desirable fresh berry fruits of high nutritional quality optimal for human health at a competitive cost. The further objective is the development and validation of a set of tools to improve competitiveness of European berry production and consumer accessibility to berry fruits. The EUBerry platform will be developed and validated by using strawberry and raspberry and blueberry as model crop species. Additionally, specific critical points related to improvement of berry fruit quality and reduction of production costs will be considered also for currants and blackberries. This project will apply the most recent technical advances in: a) Identifying germplasm of the main berry fruit genera appropriate for sustainable production throughout the EU, with respect to fruit quality and environmental adaptation and expanding use of modern breeding strategies to accelerate the release of new berry fruit cultivars into the future; b) Ensuring and expanding high-quality production systems to improve availability of high-quality fresh berries for consumers by focusing on the modern cultivation techniques for berry season extension, on adaptation to different cultivation conditions and systems, as well as to climate change, and on reducing the impact on environment in different European regions; c) Developing and applying validated methods to control and maintain fruit nutritional quality, improving shelf-life of fresh berries and increasing their availability to consumers; d) Developing economic studies to verify the impacts of the new technologies in increasing berry economic viability, farmer and consumer attractiveness; e) Disseminate and communicate the results to research scientists, academia, technical services, growers, market organizations, consumers, food industries, health authorities and regulatory and legislative authorities.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

When it comes to a health boost, berries pack a powerful punch and have some rather surprising benefits. Eat blueberries for strong bones, strawberries for regulating the bowel system, blackberries for a better memory and redcurrants to lower blood pressure.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

The http://www.euberry.univpm.it/ (EUBERRY) project is working to bring more fresh berries to the market. Around the world, consumers want these berries and understand they are filled with high-quality nutrients. Researchers on this project are working to expand and create tools for the EU to produce more of these berries, at lower costs and with increased health value.

By using strawberry, raspberry and blueberry as model crop species, the EUBERRY platform is being tested, developed and validated. Researchers are also looking to improve the berry fruit sensorial and nutritional quality and reduce production costs. Currants and blackberries are also part of the study.

Farmers, producers and the consumer will be educated on the pending research results. Researchers are testing things like improved breeding techniques to for transferring important agronomic traits from germplasm to cultivated varieties; new cultivation systems for expanding berry cultivation in northern and southern cultivation system and to out-of-season production, including the use of LED lights a new growing technique to extend the season. Also being tested are pest control systems, reduced water growing conditions and protected crop environments. New techniques to test fruit sensorial and nutritional quality are studied with new techniques and fruit of the most interesting new genotypes are studied for their benefits on human health.

Working in tandem with the small and medium-sized businesses involved in berry production, project members are optimistic their research outcomes will make the EU a leader in berry production.