Sustainable Biotechnology Improvements in Italian Cherry Production

Cherry production in Italy has faced great challenges in recent years including obsolete varieties, lack of knowledge, high cultivation costs, limited irrigation and lack of seasonal workers. To address these issues, new partnerships have been formed between academic researchers and experts of biotechnology in the attempt to provide innovation in cherry production. The combined expertise has led to new processes that ensure environmental sustainability while rejuvenating cherry species that had almost become extinct.

New hedging and protection systems for orchards, as well as improvements to the physiological and productive efficiency of the cherry orchard which can protect the trees from weather instability and can control the attack of black cherry aphid (Myzus Cerasi) have been a major focus. Furthermore, to increase the percentage of cherries destined for exports, innovative machines have been designed to produce new types of packaging that extends the shelf life of cherries and marketing period up to 30 days. Italy is the 6th largest producer of cherries with an output volume of 100,000MT, 10% of which is destined for European markets.