The EUROBERRY Action has a new and advanced approach to promote the integration of research, production systems, quality control, added nutritional value and consumer acceptance. The action will be organised with a new integrated approach: From laboratory via farm to consumer table.
EUROBERRY has, as a special aim for the future, the objective to create a European Berry Association (EBA) that could act as a permanent organisation able to promote and sustain integration in science and berry production technology.
The main objective of the Action is to improve the quality and production of berries to benefit health of the consumers and maintain profitable European production using sustainable systems. The new project will benefit from the experiences developed on strawberry during COST Action 836 and will be extended to other berry species that are important in European countries. By using a new interdisciplinary approach the programme will focus on selected topics of major importance for the European berry production system and quality control.
The objective will be achieved by focussing on four areas of research and development:
· From genomics to variety evaluation
· Nursery production system and plant quality control.
· Plant physiology and culture management.
· Health for the consumer: components and factors affecting berry nutritional value.
The overall goal of the Action will remain the development of a European berry production system able to assure the following attainments:
Sustainable cropping: growers throughout Europe need cultivars and growing systems that allow environmentally safe production that is economically viable. Nowadays, to face the globalisation of the market they strongly need to reach high standardisation for production systems.
Quality and security: high quality berries are required for fresh consumption and for industry. They should have a good sensory and nutritional value and consumers must be satisfied that they are safe and produced with minimum pesticide applications.
Health benefits: the levels and benefits of antioxidants and other bioactive compounds found in these berries should be understood. Accurate and substantiated information must be provided to consumers so that the health benefits are well understood to allow informed choices.
Maintaining profitable production in Europe: Berries are popular with consumers and demand within Europe is strong. The threat of excessive imports from non-European countries with low labour costs must be countered by developing modern, profitable production systems. This will maintain employment in berry growing and also ensure a supply of fresh, high quality products.
The improvement of berry cultivation efficiency and increased commercial value of the fruit will help in overcoming the labour problems by achieving more efficient production and meeting the expense of higher labour costs from added value.
More details are available on the MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING:
Cost 863.pdf
See also the presentation of the project prepared for the evaluation of the COST Agricultural Biotechnology Technical Committee:
Cost Euroberry.pdf
CONTACTS:
Bruno Mezzetti
Chairman COST 863
Department of Environmental and Crop Science - Marche Polytechnic University 60100 Ancona – IT
b.mezzetti@univpm.it
http://www.agr.univpm.it/strutture/ |
