Development of Organic Stone Fruit Production Technology

Summary

Purpose & Contents
This three-year collaboration (2023–2025) between GBARES and FiBL aimed to develop resilient organic plum production systems in Switzerland and Korea. The project focused on cultivar evaluation, orchard protection systems, and disease management strategies under organic conditions and variable climatic environments.
Results
In Switzerland, results from the first productive year indicate that orchard protection systems did not result in clear differences in overall tree vigor or health, while pest pressure and fruit damage varied among cultivars and between systems. However, these observations are preliminary, as the trees are still in the establishment phase and yield data remain limited. In Korea, disease occurrence and treatment performance also varied between years and were strongly influenced by annual weather conditions and pest presence, highlighting that conclusive assessments cannot yet be made and that longer-term observations are required for some experiments. Nevertheless, Lime sulfure was identified as an effective agent against plum pocket.
Expected Contribution
The project provides practical and scientific evidence supporting organic stone fruit systems and informs growers, advisors, and policymakers on products efficiency, cultivar choice, and orchard design under climate variability.