The Prognosfruit conference, held in Budapest, Hungary, has seen the World Apple and Pear Association release its crop forecast for the 2024/25 season. Apples are expected to see a significant decrease of 11.3% from the previous year, totaling 10.2 million metric tons, while pears are projected to grow by 4.9% to 1.79 million metric tons. The conference also addressed various challenges such as the impact of climate change, sustainability, food security, and geopolitical uncertainties. The event, which brings together experts from the apple and pear sector, is part of an effort to address these issues and provide opportunities for sector growth despite ongoing challenges like inflation and rising costs.