Argentina: We can triple the productivity of a traditional peach tree

From the discussion about raw material prices to the importation of cans from China, the issue of peaches for industry has taken on a strong relevance these weeks, less than a month after the local harvest begins. In this context, the fruit growing specialist, Alain Boulet, shares the work carried out by the Association for Agricultural Innovation (AIA) and warns that the situation is more complex than it seems. -With regard to production, how do you see the situation of peaches for industry? -You can see a drop in production, as a result of the aging of the mountains: today 35% of the plants are 16 years old or more, and in the next 4 or 5 years they will disappear. Productivity falls because each year they produce less, and then more hectares are eradicated than are planted. This process of eradication of many aged hectares is leading us to have fewer peaches every year. We are inefficient in costs and productivity. As long as we do not increase competitiveness, we will depend ...