Macfrut Academy, a video lesson on the blueberry supply chain

The blueberry supply chain will be in the spotlight of the Macfrut Academy, the innovative training platform sponsored by Macfrut, the international trade fair for the fruit and vegetable sector, which will take place in Rimini from 6 to 8 May 2025. On Thursday 28 November at 5 pm (Italian time), the first of two video lessons will be held on one of the most dynamic products in the global fruit and vegetable sector, which is currently experiencing significant global expansion. 

The video lesson will look at the main issues surrounding this small fruit: from variety innovation to farming techniques, as well as crop protection against pests and protection from the elements, with a particular focus on Mediterranean countries, especially Italy, Spain and Morocco.  

The global cultivation area has doubled in the last decade, from 115,000 hectares in 2014 to 262,000 hectares in 2023 (source: Ibo - Global State of The Blueberry Industry Report | 2024). This increase has been even more pronounced in Europe and the Mediterranean region, with the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East and Africa) showing a significant increase from 13,000 hectares to 57,000 hectares. The key players are Spain (5,500 hectares), Morocco (4,300 hectares), Portugal (2,620 hectares) and Italy (1,580 hectares).  

This growth trend is being driven by market demand, in which variety innovation and technology are playing a key role. In particular, variety innovation has made it possible to develop blueberry farming in the Mediterranean basin. In fact, blueberry varieties can be divided into Southern Highbush, which requires fewer chilling hours and is therefore also suitable for warm-climate production areas, and Northern Highbush, which requires more chilling hours. Southern blueberry production starts earlier than that of northern varieties, due to the fact that the regions in which they are cultivated benefit from more daylight hours and a more favourable climate, which alters the dynamics of the business models of Southern and Northern growers. This video lesson, based on the experience of Vivai Molari, explores variety research and how it is applied in plant nurseries. 

Variety improvement efforts are focused on the crispness of blueberries, while in terms of product shelf-life and adaptability to climate change, there is a shift towards low and medium chill varieties in regions where, until a few years ago, varieties requiring 700-800 hours of chilling were grown. Another area of research is finding ways to start the growing season earlier in both southern and northern climates, as evidenced by the experience of major growers in Spain and Italy, who outline their plans for innovation in the sector. 

The video lesson features a module on blueberry micropropagation, which also covers all the stages involved in plant nursery activities, including planting blueberry plants, as well as a module on the factors to consider when starting a blueberry farm. In this regard, it is becoming increasingly crucial to cover and protect the plants, not only from harmful insects and pathogens, but also to adjust sunlight exposure and temperature.  

In fact, temperature control is also essential when growing blueberries in protected environments, as this plant is normally found in the undergrowth and is sensitive to high temperatures. The Italian Arrigoni Group, which specialises in technical textile applications and in the manufacturing of protective screens for agriculture, has been researching these aspects and has developed a range of solutions designed to increase blueberry yields, from thermo-reflective screens to fabrics for insect protection and protection from the elements. 

Register here to watch the free video lesson: https://academy.macfrut.com/