Macfrut 2023, biosolutions and blueberry in the spotlight at the first day

At Macfrut, the international fair of the fresh produce industry currently taking place at Rimini Expo Centre, the innovations in natural products for plant defence, nutrition, and biostimulation were awarded as part of the Biosolutions Innovation Award, a prize promoted by Agri2000 in its third edition. Two products were awarded, which stood out for their effectiveness in the field of sustainability.  CROP+, from Agricola Internazionale, is a biostimulant fertiliser obtained by multi-stage fermentation of plant extracts to which complexed micronutrients such as zinc, manganese and copper are added. Trials on yellow kiwi varieties have shown its effectiveness in reducing plant stress caused by high and low temperatures and in reducing fruit drop.  Farina di Basalto®micronised type XF of Basalti Orvieto is a corroborant produced by mechanically grinding pure ore from the company's deposit. It is the only corroborant based on basalt rock. Quality is guaranteed by the consistency of the matrix and the grinding process. Tests on various herbaceous and tree crops have demonstrated their effectiveness in improving quality and quantity parameters.  International Blueberry Days: The SymposiumThe growth of blueberry production continues in all producer countries worldwide. At the same time, new ones are appearing, such as Portugal and Poland, which are in fact aiming to challenge Spain for European supremacy. "In these countries - explains Bruno Mezzetti, Professor at the Marche Polytechnic University, who coordinated the Symposium - there has been the most significant growth in the European Union to the point that they are contending for the lead with Spain, which is still very unbalanced on strawberries in the berries segment. In Poland, production has tripled in the last ten years, making Warsaw the leading supplier of blueberries to Germany. A role that was the UK's before Brexit”.  The world average production growth between 2021 and 2022 was between 10 and 15%, linked to the development of new varieties capable of adapting to all latitudes. Among the new cultivation techniques, the introduction of above-ground production stands out. The lack of manpower, necessary for harvesting, is also driving the mechanisation of this phase. “The uniqueness of the blueberry supply chain is linked to the choice of premium varieties which for the major players and according to market analyses of the sector, must no longer be chosen only by farms but by consumers together with companies. In this regard, some large farms carry out specific popularity surveys to identify them” Mezzetti concludes.