The second growing season is in full swing, marking a critical period for field visits to experimental plots to measure, collect data, and optimise methods in the assessment of fruit cracking.
Over the past few months, two significant field visits were carried out as part of these efforts. These visits not only provided valuable data but also helped fine-tune the strategies needed to mitigate potential risks such as fruit cracking and heatwave damage, which are key concerns for the CrackSense project.
Field Visit 1: Greece – Table Grapes and Heatwave Mitigation
The first field visit took place at the experimental fields of Pegasus Agrifood Coop in Greece. This visit was a collaborative effort involving the Volcani Institute and the Smart Farming Technology Group from the Agricultural University of Athens.
During this visit, the teams focused on measuring physiological parameters of the crops while also capturing spectral images using a drone and the TOMMY system. This innovative approach allowed them to gather detailed insights into crop health and readiness for harvest.
The collected data will contribute to refining data collection methods and ensuring best practices ahead of the August table grape harvest. One of the core objectives of this visit was to develop strategies to mitigate the potential damage caused by heatwaves, which pose a significant threat to table grape yields in the region.
Field Visit 2: Israel – Pomegranates and Cracking Risk
The second visit took place in the pomegranate orchards of Israel, where the Volcani Institute team deployed an advanced TOMMY system equipped with various sensing technologies. This visit focused on a hypothesis-testing approach related to fruit wetness and cracking risk.
The researchers collected extensive data before sunrise, using 3D temperature point clouds of the fruit surface to estimate wetness accumulation. By monitoring this key variable, they aim to predict and prevent the risk of fruit cracking, which is a major challenge in pomegranate cultivation. This visit provided crucial insights that will help shape future interventions and inform the development of effective solutions for fruit cracking.
CrackSense: Pioneering Solutions for Fruit Cracking
These field visits are part of the broader CrackSense project, aimed at tackling the issue of fruit cracking in various crops, including citrus, pomegranate, table grapes, and sweet cherries. By conducting experiments and pilots across two continents, the project seeks to develop and upscale advanced sensing technologies to mitigate fruit yield losses.
CrackSense brings together a consortium of European and Israeli partners—agricultural researchers, technology experts, and fruit producers—who are leveraging smart farming practices to understand the physiological factors contributing to fruit cracking, such as temperature fluctuations, water stress, and humidity levels. Moreover, the project aims to create an online Decision Support System that can be replicated for other crops, contributing to global efforts to reduce food loss and waste.
Through a combination of field-based experimentation, cutting-edge technology, and collaborative efforts, the CrackSense project is pioneering new approaches to sustainable fruit production. The ultimate goal is to create a data-driven framework that helps farmers better manage their crops, minimise losses, and ensure a more resilient agricultural system in the face of climate challenges.
For more information on the CrackSense project and its ongoing efforts, visit CrackSense Newsroom and follow us on LinkedIn.