The CrackSense Open Day in France took place at CTIFL, gathering growers, technicians, breeders, and researchers to explore practical approaches to reducing fruit cracking in sweet cherries. The event aimed to demonstrate the project’s progress in France, share hands-on field results, and encourage knowledge exchange between research teams and the farming community.
Understanding the Fruit Cracking Challenge
Rising temperature peaks and sudden daily shifts have become more frequent due to climate change, making fruit cracking a growing concern for farmers. This physiological disorder occurs when the fruit’s skin splits, often triggered by weather conditions and crop characteristics. In sweet cherries, the presence of water on the fruit surface – especially during or after rain – creates the right conditions for cracks to form. Once the skin breaks, the fruit becomes vulnerable to infection and rot, spreading quickly across neighbouring fruits and significantly reducing marketable yield.
Cracking in sweet cherries is a recurring issue across many growing regions, particularly when rainfall coincides with the harvest season. Even a short period of surface wetness can cause cherries to split, especially at the top or around the stem where droplets tend to linger. When more than a quarter of the fruit is affected, harvesting is often no longer profitable. Beyond economic losses, the phenomenon poses additional risks to overall fruit quality, as pathogens easily enter through cracks and spoil healthy fruit nearby.
The Purpose of CrackSense Open Day in France
Against this backdrop, the Open Day in France provided a valuable opportunity for collaboration and exchange. The event, held at CTIFL, brought together growers, technicians, researchers, breeders, and others keen to understand and mitigate fruit cracking in sweet cherries. Open Days within the CrackSense project are designed to bridge research and field practice, allowing participants to observe how scientific results are applied directly in orchards.
Introducing CrackSense Research Activities
At the Open Day in France, José Quero Garcia presented the ongoing work led by INRAE and CTIFL. He outlined how experiments and pilot trials across France aim to understand the biological and environmental factors influencing cracking. These initiatives focus on practical solutions – ranging from genetic insights to improved monitoring systems – that can help growers anticipate and manage cracking incidents before they cause significant damage.
Field Demonstrations and Practical Insights
The orchard visit formed one of the most engaging parts of the CrackSense Open Day in France. Participants followed David Alletru from CTIFL, who demonstrated the use of TOMMY, a system that combines RGB and thermal imaging with 3D point cloud data. This technology offers growers visual insights into plant health and microclimate conditions, helping them interpret when and why cracking might occur. The use of drones for data collection further illustrated how modern sensing tools are becoming integral to orchard monitoring and management.
Collaboration and Shared Knowledge
Beyond the technical presentations, the Open Day in France fostered meaningful discussion among participants. Growers and researchers exchanged ideas on how to adapt cultivation practices in light of shifting weather patterns. The open format encouraged feedback and practical reflections, ensuring that the scientific progress made within the CrackSense project continues to align with growers’ real-world needs.
Looking Ahead
As one in a series of Open Days across Europe, the Open Day in France strengthened the project’s mission to create data-driven, field-tested approaches to fruit cracking prevention. Each event contributes to a broader understanding of crop behaviour under changing climatic conditions, reinforcing cooperation between science and practice. By sharing experiences and showcasing tangible outcomes, the CrackSense Open Days continue to support resilient and sustainable fruit production for the years ahead.
Follow our Newsroom and LinkedIn to stay updated on our work.