Objective
A. BACKGROUND
A SYNERGY TO IMPROVE THROUGH A COOPERATIVE RESEARCH
The cultivated strawberry is a half-hardy rosaceous plant but very complex in view of its genetic situation (a heterozygous plant, an octoploid with 56 chromosomes) and its physiology (photoperiodic floral induction, plain or neutral: false dormancy; antagonism between vegetative and sexual reproduction).
Genetic improvement is a very uncertain task and the current criteria for selection - genetic resistance, taste and flavour - are based on little known complex genetic features and on quantitative transmission.
Crop control is very delicate and specialised, dependent on the interaction of numerous factors (for example, climate, photoperiod, light levels, protection against the cold) which may result in major variations in the expression of different potentialities (phenotypic or quantitative).
Qualitative control of the fruit is therefore a complex outcome between a good adaptation of a plant variety in a given agro-climatic context and the use of well thought-out production systems in view of the achievement of cultivating healthy and hygienic fruit for the consumer.
All these problems result in the following:
- young researchers are less inclined to look on the strawberry plant as a study model because it is too complex;
- the teams of specialist researchers working on this plant are being constantly reduced throughout Europe;
- the financial priorities of the Research Centres are moving towards plants of strategic importance made up of simpler models.
Those specialists and technical scientists still working on the strawberry plant in Europe feel there is an urgent need to work in closer collaboration and to complete the work on the areas of specialities which are not covered in their respective countries, in order to build up a European network of study as the first link in a future European programme of research into the strawberry plant.
Due to the CIREF initiative in 1990 and 1991, two European meetings of researchers allowed the current state of strawberry research in Europe to be drawn up and to define different common themes for a future research basis with common harmonized study.
The project we are presenting relies primarily on the framework of a multi-disciplinary European team of specialist scientists working principally on strawberry plant, but also developing work on other soft fruits.
The willingness of this scientific community to pursue this work via a network and to extend the work to other aspects of physiological and hygienic improvements constitutes the basis of this project. Also proposed are certain technical solutions for European producers for the cultivation of good and healthy fruit for the consumer.
The organization of this network of specialists, who have defined methods of study and clear lines of communication, will form a model, capable of extrapolation, for improvements to other minor species of small fruit.
The COST project, set out below, offers a novel characteristic for the Community, i.e. the integration of the research which will be carried on in a horizontal way in order to define the lines of technical supervision, having regard to today's imperative needs to balance environmental concerns with the health of the consumer.
This proposal to set up a new COST is the convergence of three main ideas:
(1) the preconditional existence of two networks, set up in the framework of the community programme AIR 92-95, which are in operation but which need to continue in perpetuity, taking into account the expectations of the members of the networks;
(2) the multi-discipline and simultaneous characteristic of the specific problems of the strawberry plant (vegetal matter, physiology, nutrition, diseases, adapting to the evolving market forces) before and after production;
(3) the complexity and the difficulties in understanding the physiology of the strawberry plants calls for the development of a global strategy and the strengthening of the coordination between the various scientific disciplines.
AN "OPENED FUTURE" FOR BERRIES IN EUROPE
The directions defined by the CAP are leading towards an increasingly marked interest in so-called minor species as small fruits:
- in the diversification of farming methods,
- in the development of poor soils or enhancing the status of smallholdings (support for the rural economy),
- in the need for a higher added value for fresh and processed agricultural produce,
- in the diversification of food buying. The consumer expects fruits to be a "tasting pleasure",
- in the promotion of the attractive characteristics of soft fruits by means of the media, marketing and communication.
EU strawberry production amounts to 1 500 000 tonnes (source: FAO) and is ranked at No. 1 in the world (48% of world production) ahead of North American countries (28%) and Asia (16%). It takes prime place in the important areas of cultivation in Southern Europe (Spain and Italy) and represents the first choice as a "diversification" crop in Northern Europe and in the countries with poor levels of agriculture. It is a crop with high added value from which European trade generates a very significant turnover (which places the strawberry just behind the apple, tomato and peach) and strong economic and related activities. It has made possible the economic development of entire regions (Andalucia - in Spain, the Italian region of Naples) and as a diversification crop it guarantees financial profitability to the producers from their businesses and also helps to maintain the traditional European rural net. The strawberry crop is very labour intensive with additional seasonal labour required: an employment of a seasonal workforce of 1,5 million each year in Europe. It has also enabled young farmers to set up in business, thanks to the profitability obtainable from a small area of land and a ready cashflow.
The strawberry belongs to historic and European cultural traditions. In the mind of the European consumer, the strawberry benefits from a very highly esteemed trade image. A "trendy" fruit, due to its health food qualities, the strawberry is still "traditional" in the mind of the consumer (basic organoleptic stimuli).
The European consumption of berries continues to increase. The strawberry is an "opened future" fruit, despite present economical difficulties of production cost and trade organization between the large European crop areas. To enforce cooperation by a synergy in the research and improvements in a quality production, the European strawberry specialists consider that COST offers the best framework, wide and opened, for such cooperation.
B. OBJECTIVES AND BENEFITS
The main objective of the present proposition is to create a model applicable to all small fruits in order to improve the fundamental knowledge of them. With regard to the strawberry, it would be to propose production and protection systems which would guarantee in Europe a reliable protection, secure in economic terms for the producer and in terms of hygiene and quality for the consumer.
(1) Through the main topics:
- The improvement of physiological knowledge of the plant is a prerequisite of the agro-cultural control of the plant according to the pedo-climatic areas of production.
- The improvement of the genetic inheritance comes about today by the use of genes (resistance to diseases, aroma and flavour) coming from species in the wild. The accurate introduction of these genes into intra or interspecific hybridisation relies more and more on the use of biotechnical methods (cultivation of protoplasts, somaclonal variations and gene transfer, etc.).
- The improvement of the health standards of the fruit requires the clear definition of the conditions for the implementation of well reasoned methods, integrated within a phytotechnical programme concerned with the conservation of a natural balance.
- The improvement of the health food qualities of the fruit in the current modern context (ban on the use of soil biocides, the demands of implementation) require the optimisation of the plant nutrients in systems which are little used today but which will probably become necessary in the future for soil-less cultivation.
Taking into account the weaknesses of national funding and the number of specialist teams, common study is proving increasingly imperative in order to combine efforts and harmonize study methods, to reflect together on the basis of modern strawberry cultivation in Europe and to make significant progress.
(2) Through the different methods:
This new COST initiative would also have other objectives which would be realised in the course of research:
(1) To standardize the study methods within the European teams after the fashion of the study undertaken for the teams involved in judging plant varieties. For example, methods of testing resistance, methods of various analysis of objective measures and of fruit quality.
(2) To enlarge the researchers' sphere of investigation thanks to the various collaborations and exchanges of ideas already achieved, which allows for more rapid solutions to problems being studied (problems of Thrips F.O. for example).
(3) To form a European expert group to improve the regulations and European standard relating to the production and trade of plants (European certification of young plants), the marketing and trade in fruit - (European qualitative standards).
(4) To set up common data banks (varieties, methods of control, system of reference for nutrients, etc...).
(3) Benefits expected:
Firstly, this proposal is justified at Community level for scientific reasons. In the absence of common study, the various lines of research into the strawberry plant would be abandoned due to the lack of national motivation and credibility. Conversely, the network of study will create a synergy reinforcing the interest and durability of research work already in place or to be undertaken.
It will form a model of an organization for research at a European level for all small fruits, capable of extrapolating the methods used for other minor widespread horticultural species, which lack funds for major research.
With this proposal for a common study programme, the European Community will give itself the possibility of substantiating its position as world leader in strawberry production in opposition to the American continent, which is well provided with genetic resources and the creation of new varieties (the varieties used in Southern Europe are originally American). On the other hand, this group of European experts will act as a vast observatory ready to forecast the problems and evolution of cultivation systems. By its studies and guidance it can help to create the technical conditions to assure a better spread of production of strawberries in Europe.
C. SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMME
The proposed initiative may be regrouped into three principal topics linked by lines of communication (coordination, common sub-themes) between 5 study groups.
The scientific programme is summarized on the following diagram. At the first meeting, each group will be required to define precisely its study programme for a period of four years, in agreement with the general objectives.
The main originality of the scientific programme is the multi-disciplinary approach, at the same time, made possible by the permanent and strong link between the topic 2 - Physiology - and the two others topics - Variety and crop.
The physiology group, which will be the pivot of the whole, will work to understand and solve variety or cropping problems. On the other hand, variety and cropping groups will enforce the physiology group.
It is probably in the best interest to develop in Europe strong research work on the physiology of the berries.
Another important point will be the relationships which will be developed with other COST actions and the results obtained, particularly in Tissue Culture (COST 822) - Fruit Quality (COST 925) and Post-Harvest (COST 94).
Finally, it is important to note that, in the different working groups, scientists and agronomists will work together for a better understanding of the problems at different levels both fundamental and applied.
D. ORGANIZATION AND TIMETABLE
(1) General organization
The organization and coordination of the initiative will be undertaken by a Management Committee assisted by the Secretariat of COST, in accordance with the common procedures for COST initiatives. The Management Committee will be composed of coordinators from each group, representing national interests and official scientific representatives of each country participating to the Action. The first meeting with all the participants of the COST initiative, in order to set up the groups and develop the programmes. Each group will have a chairman and a co-chairman to follow the progress of the group's studies, to organize intermediate annual meetings of the groups and to encourage the mobility of researchers between the Institutes involved with the groups. They will check that the links and the communications are in place between the different topics and sub-groups, an important element for the success of the COST initiative. They will also ensure that links are established between the other COSTs working on complementary topics. Each year they will draw up a summary of the studies undertaken by their group.
- The total duration of the Action is estimated to 5 years.
- The preparatory meetings of the coordinators at the beginning of COST will have as their objectives:
to clarify precisely the general organization and the links with the Secretariat of COST.
to plan for the organization and the objectives of the first joint meeting.
- The Joint Meeting will have as its objectives:
to form the study groups
properly to define the objectives directed at each group and the methods of coordination inter and intra-group.
- The Group Meetings (years 1 and 3) will enable a presentation to be made of any study advances, the analysis and resolution of obstacles found, to suggest movements among the research groups and to harmonize and compare the methods used.
- The Joint Meetings and regrouping of groups (year 2) based around the Physiology group will allow for links between the topics and to check that the studies for each group fit properly into the common objectives as defined in the preamble.
- The Final Seminar will summarise all the work of the groups and will underline any advances achieved towards the defined objective. It will be edited for a scientific publication in the format of the ACTA Horticulturae at the ISHS, with reprints in the different national technical papers to be read by the growers. National seminars for the growers would be organized as well.
- The Coordination Committee Meetings will take place twice a year as a preamble to the annual and mid-year meetings. Considering the vegetative cycle of the strawberry plant, it would be preferable for the annual meeting to take place between November and February/March and therefore the other coordination meetings will be in October and April. The Coordination Committee is responsible for collecting together each year a summary of study results from each group and to put together an interim annual report.
E. ECONOMIC DIMENSION
The following COST countries have actively participated in the preparation of the Action or otherwise indicated their interest:
SURE: Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey,
WITH RESERVE: Poland, Slovakia.
A total of 14 countries
- For the 5 working groups, anticipated participation by scientists could be:
22 scientists for working group 1,
22 scientists for working group 2,
14 scientists for working group 3,
13 scientists for working group 4,
22 scientists for working group 5.
A total of 93 men-year
The estimated cost would be:
Total scientists and staffs 93 x ECU 60 000 = ECU 5,6 million
Laboratories, equipments and
consumable ECU 1,6 million
Overheads costs ECU 0,8 million
TOTAL ESTIMATED COSTS COVERED
FROM NATIONAL SOURCES BY YEAR ECU 8,0 million.
Programme(s)
Topic(s)
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
Data not availableCoordinator
Italy