Our Network

This project aim to reach the maximum number of interested people. The communication project strategy is based in collaboration not only with the project´s partners we are going to count with the “Key multipliers”. In the BIOFRUITNET project they are defined as relevant organisations/associations (public or private) for the organic fruit sector in Europe that can support the communication and dissemination of the project through their conections/networks. For example, they can pass the Biofruitnet materials to its members, support in social media, spread the word about Biofruitnet events between its members, share content… etc. They are a key element of the communication strategy

1.    VSUO

Type of network :  public

Number of members:  596

Website or address:     http://www.vsuo.cz/en/

 Fruit crop/s:   apple, pear, plum, cherry, apricot

Level of the network :   international level, national level, regional level

Network management:    advisors, researchers, breeders

Network members :   farmers, advisors, researchers, marketing organisations, certifiers, breeders

Activities :

  • exchange of information, dissemination of information
  • elaboration of improved strategies
  • science a research
  • breeding of new fruit cultivars
  •  genebank of fruit cultivars
  •  fruit growing technology        

Information dealt with:

  • orchard management
  • varieties and breeding
  • plant health care
  • soil management and fertilisation
  • genebank of fruit cultivars     

Specialised subgroups:

  1. genetics and breeding
  2. genebanks
  3. plant protection
  4. technologies

2.     BIOCONT LABORATORY

Type of network:   private

Number of members:  16

Website or address:   www.biocont-profi.cz

 Fruit crop/s:     apple, pear, plum, cherry, apricot

Level of the network:      international level, national level, regional level

Network management:   advisors, researchers

Network members:    advisors, researchers

Activities:

  •   exchange of information, dissemination of information
  •   elaboration of improved strategies
  •   e-advisory
  •   decision support systems       

Information dealt with:

  •    orchard management
  •    plant health care
  •    soil management and fertilisation     

Specialised subgroups:

1. plant protection

2. decision support systems

3. BIOSAD

Type of network:    public

Number of members:  42

Website or address:     www.biosad.cz

 Fruit crop/s:    apple, pear, plum, cherry, apricot

Level of the network:    international level, national level, regional level

Network management:    farmers, advisors, researchers, agriculture university

Network members:   farmers, advisors, researchers

Activities:

  •    exchange of information, dissemination of information
  •    elaboration of improved strategies
  •    advisory service
  •    decision support systems       

Information dealt with:

  •  orchard management
  •  plant health care
  •  soil management and fertilisation     

Specialised subgroups:

1. plant protection

2. decision support systems

1.   Scientists and advisors

Type of network:    private

Number of members:  10

Website or address:     Hortiadvice, hvidkærvej 29, 5250 Odense SV, Denmark.

Fruit crop/s:  apple, pear, plum, cherry

Level of the network:    national level

Network management:     advisors

Network members:    advisors, researchers

Activities:     exchange of information, dissemination of information

Information dealt with:

  •   orchard management
  •   varieties and breeding
  •   soil management and fertilisation
  •   certification, rules and interpretation

 2. GASA NORD GRØNT’S ØKOGRUPPE

Type of network:   private

Number of members:  7

Website or address:     Elvej 15, DK 4990 Sakskøbing

 Fruit crop/s:   apple, pear

Level of the network:    national level

Network management:    marketing organisations

Network members:    farmers

Activities:   exchange of information, dissemination of information

Information dealt with:

  •     varieties and breeding
  •     certification, rules and interpretation

3. Organic Denmark (Oekologisk Landsforening)

Type of network:   NGO, advisors

Number of members:  10 intensive growers and 100 extensive growers

Website or address:   www.okologi.dk

Fruit crop/s:    apple, pear, plum, cherry

Level of the network:   national level

Network management:   farmers, marketing organisations, organic customers

Network members:    farmers, marketing organisations, organic customers

Activities:

  •  exchange of information, dissemination of information
  •  elaboration of improved strategies
  •  project developing withing organic farmer and marketing

Information dealt with:

  •    soil management and fertilisation
  •    certification, rules and interpretation for fruitgrowing Organic Denmark collaborates with HortiAdvice around advice for professional growing

4. Organic fruit growers

Type of network:   private

Number of members:  10

Website or address:     Skovbyvej 64, 7080 Børkop, Denmark

Fruit crop/s:   apple, pear

Level of the network:  national level

Network management:  farmers

Network members:  farmers

Activities:  political aspects concerning use and permission of use of organic plant protection products         

Information dealt with:  political aspects concerning use and permission of use of organic plant protection products

1. Estonian Organic Farming Platform

Type of network:  NGO

Number of members:  this is an umbrella organisation uniting 15 organic farming organisations in Estonia

Website or address:   www.maheklubi.ee

 Fruit crop/s:   apple, pear, plum, cherry

Level of the network:   national level

Network management:   farmers, development organisations

Network members:   farmers, advisors, researchers, marketing organisations, development organisations

Activities:

  • exchange of information, dissemination of information
  • elaboration of improved strategies    

Information dealt with:

  •  orchard management
  •  varieties and breeding
  •  plant health care
  •  soil management and fertilisation
  •  certification, rules and interpretation
  •  support schemes

1. BIOFRUITS SUD

 Type of network:  NGO

Number of members:  7

Fruit crop/s:  apple, peach and nectarine, plum

Level of the network: regional level

Network management:  farmers, advisors

Network members:  farmers, advisors, researchers

Activities:

  • exchange of information, dissemination of information
  • elaboration of improved strategies

Information dealt with:  varieties and breeding

2. Novafruits

 Type of network:   NGO

Number of members:  35

 Fruit crop/s: apple, pear

Level of the network:  regional level

Network management:  farmers, breeders

Network members:  farmers, researchers, breeders

Activities:   elaboration of improved strategies

Information dealt with:   varieties and breeding

2. DEPHY FERME Fruits à pépins bio”

 Type of network:           public

Number of members:  12

Website or address:     https://forum.adabio.com/

Fruit crop/s:  apple, pear

Level of the network:  regional level

Network management           advisors

Network members:   farmers

Activities:

  • exchange of information, dissemination of information
  •  elaboration of improved strategies

Information dealt with:

  •  orchard management
  •  plant health care
  •  soil management and fertilisation
  •  biodiversity

Specialised subgroups :

1. functional biodiversity : set-up of bird and bat nests, flower strips to favour pollination, introduction of animal in the orchard (e.g. hen).

2. orchard management : Thinning strategies, Water supplies

3. soil management and fertilisation : green manure, low-tillage, cover (clover, grass etc), biodynamy

4. plant health care : knowledge about specific pests (biology, management   strategie eg : Contarinia pyrivora, Hoplocampa sp.)

3. GIS FRUITS

Type of network:    public

Number of members:  22

Website or address:    https://www.gis-fruits.org

Fruit crop/s:  apple, pear, peach and nectarine, plum, cherry, apricot, almond, orange, lemon, others

Level of the network:  national level

Network management:   researchers

Network members:    advisors, researchers, marketing organisations, breeders. The objective is to make a wide variety of partners collaborate within this GIS: research and higher education organizations, technical institutes and chambers of agriculture, institutional partners (ministry in charge  of agriculture, FranceAgriMer, poles of competitiveness), professional partners from upstream to downstream of the sector.

Activities:

  •  exchange of information, dissemination of information
  •  elaboration of improved strategies
  •  the objective of GIS Fruits is to coordinate and orient a multidisciplinary national research, research and development and training program serving the Fruit sector, based on broad consultation between various stakeholders.

Information dealt with:

  •   orchard management
  •   varieties and breeding
  •   plant health care
  •    oil management and fertilisation

Specialised subgroups:

  1.  organization of actors and competitiveness of the sector
  2.  societal expectations
  3. biology and control of pests and diseases
  4. adaptation and anticipation of climate change
  5. system approach at 3 scales: plot, farm and territory
  6. development and maintenance of the quality of fresh and processed fruits

4. GRAB arboriculture

 Type of network:  producer association

Number of members:  45

Website or address:    www.grab.fr

Fruit crop/s:  apple, pear, peach and nectarine, plum, cherry, apricot, almond

Level of the network:   national level, regional level

Network management:  farmers, researchers

Network members:  farmers, researchers

Activities:

  • exchange of information, dissemination of information
  • elaboration of improved strategies

Information dealt with:

  • orchard management
  • varieties and breeding
  • plant health care
  • soil management and fertilisation
  • certification, rules and interpretation (country specific)

5. Groupe Technique Bio de La Moriniière

 Type of network:  private

Number of members:  50

Website or address:    www.la-morniere.fr

Fruit crop/s:  apple, pear

Level of the network:  regional level

Network management:  researchers

Network members:   farmers, advisors, researchers

Activities:  exchange of information, dissemination of information

Information dealt with:

  • orchard management
  • plant health care
  • soil management and fertilisation

6. UMT SI Bio, “Horticulture innovative systems”

Type of network:   public

Number of members:  30

Website or address:    http://www.itab.asso.fr/programmes/umtsibio.php

Fruit crop/s:   pomefruits, stonefruits, citrus

Level of the network:   regional level

Network management:  researchers

Network members:    farmers, advisors, researchers

Activities:

  • exchange of information, dissemination of information
  • elaboration of improved strategies
  • co-conception and assessment

Information dealt with:

  • orchard management
  • plant health care
  • soil management and fertilisation

Specialised subgroups:

  1.  co-conception and assessment of innovative orchards’ systems
  2. ecological levers
  3. transition to organic and knowledges

7. DEPHY Ferme

Type of network:   public

Number of members:  11

Website or address:    none

Fruit crop/s:    apple, plum, grapes

Level of the network:  regional level

Network management:   advisors

Network members:  farmers

Activities:

  • exchange of information, dissemination of information
  • elaboration of improved strategies

Information dealt with:

  • orchard management
  • plant health care
  • soil management and fertilisation

Specialised subgroups :

  1. cover crops to combat erosion and enhance biodiversity
  2. soil management: acquire soil knowledge to gain autonomy on how to best understand issues and how to treat them
  3. grazing in orchards

8. Fédération nationale d’agriculture biologique (National Federation of Organic agriculture) FNAB 

Type of network: professional body with a union perspective, non-profit organisation

Number of members:  direct members are regional groupings of organic producers (14), which in turn brings together local groupings of organic producers. As a whole, the network counts more than 10 000 producers and around 350 staff members.

Website or address:    www.fnab.org,  https://www.produire-bio.fr

 Fruit crop/s:   apple, pear, peach and nectarine, plum, cherry, apricot, almond, citrus

Level of the network:   national level

Network management:  farmers, advisors

Network members:   farmers, advisors

Activities:

  • exchange of information, dissemination of information
  • elaboration of improved strategies
  • interactions with institutions to promote better organic practices and defend organic producers

Information dealt with:

  • orchard management
  • varieties and breeding
  • plant health care
  • soil management and fertilisation
  • certification, rules and interpretation (country specific)

Specialised subgroups:

  1. group on Apple and Pear: follow up of production and prices, good practices
  2. project on cover crops in orchards and vineyards
  3. group to test new varieties for apple, peach, plum (BioFruits Sud, described in another questionnaire).

1. Fördergemeinschaft Ökologischer Obstbau e.V. – FÖKO

 Type of network: NGO

Number of members:  200

Website or address:    www.foeko.de

Fruit crop/s:  apple, pear, plum, cherry

Level of the network:  national level

Network management:   farmers

Network members:   farmers, advisors, researchers

Activities:

  • exchange of information, dissemination of information
  • elaboration of improved strategies
  • initiate project to improve strategies
  • supply informations on organic current practice in plant health care
  • coordinate activities for registration of products needed by farmers

Information dealt with:

  • orchard management
  • varieties and breeding
  • plant health care
  • soil management and fertilisation
  • biodiversity management

Specialised subgroups:

  1. working group apple breeding and varieties
  2. working group apple disease control
  3. working group apple insect control and enhancement of biodiversity
  4. working group organic quality
  5. working group sustainable development of the whole production chain
  6. working group pear
  7. working group stone fruit
  8. working group small fruit

2. Der Beratungsdienst Ökologischer Obstbau e.V. – BÖO

Type of network:  private

Number of members:  200 full members, 300 sustaining members

Website or address:    www.oekoobstbau.de

Fruit crop/s:   apple, pear, peach and nectarine, plum, cherry, apricot

Level of the network:  regional level

Network management:  farmers, advisors

Network management: farmers, advisors, researchers

Activities:

  • exchange of information, dissemination of information
  • elaboration of improved strategies
  • integration of newly organic farmers into existing networks
  • platform for social networking among organic fruitgrowers

Information dealt with:

  • orchard management
  • varieties and breeding
  • plant health care
  • soil management and fertilisation
  • certification, rules and interpretation
  • biodiversity management

3. Öko-Obstbau Norddeutschland e.V. – ÖON

 Type of network:  NGO

Number of members:  90

Website or address:    www.oeon.de

Fruit crop/s:  apple, pear, plum, cherry

Level of the network:   regional level

Network management :  farfmers, advisors, researchers

Network members:  farmers

Activities:

  • exchange of information, dissemination of information
  • elaboration of improved strategies

Information dealt with:

  • orchard management
  • varieties and breeding
  • plant health care
  • soil management and fertilisation
  • certification, rules and interpretation
  • biodiversity management

1. APOFRUIT

Type of network:    private

Number of members:  more than 4000

Website or address:    www.apofruit.it

Fruit crop/s:  pomefruits, stonefruits, citrus

Level of the network:   national level

Network management:  farmers, marketing organisations

Network members:  farmers, advisors, marketing organisations, breeders

Activities:

  • exchange of information, dissemination of information
  • elaboration of improved strategies
  • internal funds coming from the operative plans      

Information dealt with:

  • orchards management
  • varieties and breeding
  • plant health care
  • soil management and fertilisation
  • certification, rules and interpretation
  • ICT technologies       

Specialised subgroups:  in APOFRUIT there are several operative groups all organised in terms of specific topics

2. Jonicabio

Type of network         private

Number of members  30

Website or address    http://www.opjonica.it/

Fruit crop/s                             peach and nectarine, plum, cherry, apricot, almond, orange,                                                            lemon, others

Level of the network              national level

Network management           farmers, advisors, marketing organisations

Network members                 farmers, marketing organisations

Activities                              exchange of information, dissemination of information         

                                        elaboration of improved strategies

ICT technologies

Information dealt with           orchard management

varieties and breeding

plant health care

soil management and fertilisation

certification, rules and interpretation

Specialised subgroups            1. farmers and advisors

  1. warehouse
  2. training section
  3. administrative group

3. O.P. AGRINOVA BIO 2000

Type of network:  private

Number of members:  55

Website or address:    http://www.agrinovabio2000.it/

Fruit crop/s:   orange, lemon, others

Level of the network:   regional level (Sicily)

Network management:   farmers, advisors, breeders, marketing organisations

Network members:   farmers, advisors, marketing organisations

Activities:  exchange of information, dissemination of information         

Information dealt with:

  • orchard management
  • varieties and breeding
  • plant health care
  • soil management and fertilisation
  • certification, rules and interpretation

4.  LAIMBURG

Type of network:  public

Number of members:  10-15

Website or address:    www.laimburg.it

Fruit crop/s:   apple, cherry, apricot

Level of the network:   regional level

Network management:  researchers

Network members:  farmers, advisors, marketing organisations, public offices

Activities:

  • exchange of information, dissemination of information
  • elaboration of improved strategies
  • research projects      

Information dealt with:

  • orchard management
  • varieties and breeding
  • plant health care
  • soil management and fertilisation
  • post-harvest  

Specialised subgroups: specialised working group not in network but at the Laimburg Research Centre

5.  FEDERBIO

Type of network:   private

Number of members:  29

Website or address:    https://feder.bio/

Fruit crop/s:  apple

Level of the network:   international level (IFOAM, TP Organics), national level

Network management:   farmers, advisors, researchers, breeders, marketing organisations, certifiers

Network members:    farmers, advisors, researchers

Activities:

  • exchange of information, dissemination of information
  • elaboration of improved strategies

Information dealt with:

  • orchard management
  • plant health care
  • soil management and fertilisation

6.  BIOLAND SOUTH TYROL

Type of network:   private

Website or address:    https://www.bioland.de/ueber-uns/landesverbaende/suedtirol-it.html

Fruit crop/s:   apple, pear, plum, cherry, apricot

Level of the network:  regional level

Network management:    farmers, advisors, breeders, marketing organisations

Network members:  farmers, advisors, researchers, marketing organisations

Activities:

  • exchange of information, dissemination of information
  • elaboration of improved strategies   

Information dealt with: varieties and breeding

1. Institute of Horticulture

Type of network:         public

Website or address:    https://www.darzkopibasinstituts.lv/en

Fruit crop/s:   apple, pear, plum, cherry

Level of the network:    national level

Network management:   researchers, breeders

Network members:  researchers, breeders

Activities:

  • exchange of information, dissemination of information
  • elaboration of improved strategies   

Information dealt with:

  • orchard management
  • varieties and breeding
  • plant health care
  • soil management and fertilisation

Specialised subgroups:

  1. unit of agronomic research and variety testing
  2. unit of genetic and breeding
  3. unit of plant pathology and entomology;
  4. unit of processing and biochemestry

1. Association of Polish organic farmers “POLSKI EKOOWOC”

Type of network:    private

Number of members:  18

Website or address:    www.ekoowoc.pl

Fruit crop/s:      apple, pear

Level of the network:  national level

Network management:    farmers

Activities:

  • exchange of information, dissemination of information
  • elaboration of improved strategies

Information dealt with:

  • orchard management
  • varieties and breeding
  • plant health care
  • exchange of information on distribution and sales

2. Centrum Doradztwa Rolniczego w Radomiu (Agricultural Advisory Centre at Radom)

Type of network: public

Number of members: 120

Website or address: https://roleko.cdr.gov.pl

Fruit crop/s:  apple, pear, peach, cherries, plum

Level of the network:  national level

Network members:  advisors

Activities:

  • exchange of information, dissemination of information
  • elaboration of improved strategies

Information dealt with:

  • orchard management
  • varieties and breeding
  • plant health
  • plant nutrition
  • exchange of information on distribution and sales
  • fruit processing (micro-farm scale)

1. AGRIECOL

Type of network:   public

Number of members:  all researchers, more than 50 entities, 22 research groups belonging to research Institutes and 28 belonging to universities. Between them, there are  more than 250 researchers and various organizations in the sector

Website or address:    http://www.agriecol.org/ 

Fruit crop/s:          

  • apple, pear, peach and nectarine, plum, cherry,
  • apricot, almond
  • orange, lemon, others

Level of the network:    network at national level

Network management:   researchers

Network Members:  researchers and NGO´s (http://www.agriecol.org/asociaciones-y-empresas/)

Activities:   exchange of information, dissemination of information

Information dealt with:

  •  orchard management
  •  varieties and breeding
  •  plant health care
  •  soil management and fertilisation

Specialised subgroups:

  1. organic food
  2. organic crop production systems
  3. organic livestock production systems
  4. sustainability of organic systems

2. Valencia de cubiertas vegetales

Type of network:    public and private

Number of members:  35

Website or address    http://www.cooperativesagroalimentariescv.com/ (not specific web).

Fruit crop/s:  orange, lemon, others

level of the network:   at regional level

Network management:  farmers, advisor, researchers

Network Members:   farmers, advisors, researchers, regional government (GV)

Activities:

  • exchange of information, dissemination of information
  • elaboration of improved strategies

Information dealt with:   introducing cover crops in Valencian citriculture to avoid herbicides use and to improve pest control

 Specialised subgroups:

  1.  machinery and management of cover crops
  2. cover crops and plant health
  3. soil fertility and cover crops

3. SEAE (SOCIEDAD ESPAÑOLA DE AGRICULTURA ECOLÓGICA)

 Type of network:    NGO

Website or address:    https://www.agroecologia.net/

Fruit crop/s:   pomefruits, stonefruits, orange, lemon, others

level of the network:   at national level

Network management:  others: NOG staff

Network Members:  farmers, advisors, researchers, breeders, certifiers

Activities :

  • exchange of information, dissemination of information
  • elaboration of improved strategies
  • organizing workshops and congress
  • organizing on-line and presential courses

Information dealt with:

  • orchard management
  •  varieties and breeding
  •  plant health care
  • soil management and fertilisation
  • certification rules and interpretation (country specific)
  • agroecology

4. Fruit.Net

 Type of network:   public, private

Number of members:  >50 in the whole network  (10 in citrus)

Website or address:    https://ruralcat.gencat.cat/fruitnet

Fruit crop/s:    pomefruits, peach and nectarine, orange, others

level of the network:  at regional level

Network management:   researchers, government staff

Network Members:   farmers, advisors, researchers, governmental staff

Activities:

  •  exchange of information, dissemination of information
  •  elaboration of improved strategies
  •  research plan
  •  demonstratives farms

Information dealt with:   plant health care, strategies to minimize pesticide use

Specialised subgroups:

  • researchers, experimental farms to apply the new strategies,
  • technology transfer

5.  APAEMA

 Type of network:  NGO

Number of members:  >400

Website or address:    https://apaema.net/identitat/

Fruit crop/s: peach and nectarine, apricot, almond, orange, lemon, others

level of the network:  at regional level

Network management:  farmers

Network Members:   famers, advisors

Activities:

  • exchange of information, dissemination of information
  • training

Information dealt with:

  • orchard management
  • soil management and fertilisation
  • certification, rules and interpretation (country specific)

Specialised subgroups:   training, Advisors, commercialization

6. Several Informal farmers groups

Type of network:    farmers

Number of members:  20-50

Website or address:    None

Fruit crop/s:    orange, lemon, others

level of the network:   at regional level

Network management:   farmers

Network Members:    farmers

Activities:   exchange of information, dissemination of information

Information dealt with:

  • orchard management
  • varieties and breeding
  • plant health care
  • soil management and fertilisation
  • certification, rules and interpretation (country specific)

7. Asociación Valor Ecológico, ECOVALIA

Type of network:         NGO

Number of members:  15.000

Website or address:   www.ecovalia.org

Fruit crop/s:  almond, citrus

level of the network:   at national level, at regional level

Network management:   non-profit organisation

Network Members:  farmers, advisors, retailers

Activities:  exchange of information, dissemination of information

Information dealt with:

  •  orchard management
  •  plant health care
  •  soil management and  fertilisation
  •  certification, rules and interpretation (country specific)
  •  policies
  •  market information
  •  general information about organic farming

1. App group fruit growers

Type of network:   app group

Number of members: around 10, with more and less active participants. This includes some conventional growers.

Fruit crop/s:   mainly apple

Level of the network:    national level

Network management:    farmers

Network members:  farmers

Activities:  exchange of information, dissemination of information

Information dealt with:

  • orchard management
  • plant health care
  • soil management and fertilisation
  • mechanisation
  • markets

1. Prisma

Type of network:   private

Number of members:  49 and 5 advising members

Website or address:    https://prismafruit.nl/

Fruit crop/s:    apple, pear, plum, cherry

Level of the network:   national

Network management :  farmers

Network members:   farmers, advisors

Activities:

  • exchange of information, dissemination of information
  • elaboration of improved strategies
  • availability of organic plant protection products in the Netherlands

Information dealt with:

  • orchard management
  • varieties and breeding
  • plant health care
  • soil management and fertilisation
  • availability of organic plant protection products in the Netherlands

Specialised subgroups:

  1. working group pear
  2. working group on availability of organic plant protection products in organic fruit growing

1. Bioaustria

Type of network:    private

Number of members:  200 fruitgrowers, more other farming groups

Website or address:    https://www.bio-austria.at/

Fruit crop/s:     apple, pear, peach, nectarine, plum, cherry, apricot

Level of the network:   national level

Network management :   advisors

Network members:  farmers, advisors, researchers, certifiers

Activities :

  •  exchange of information, dissemination of information
  •  elaboration of improved strategies   

Information dealt with:

  •  orchard management
  •  varieties and breeding
  •  plant health care
  •  soil management and fertilisation
  •  certification, rules and interpretation

Specialised subgroups:

  1.  subgroup soil management
  2. subgroup plant health care
  3. subgroup guidelines for organic fruit growing (active currently especially for demeter association)
  4. subgroup new technics of pruning and tree education

2.  Von Herzen Biobauern

Type of network:   private

Number of members:  120

Website or address:    http://www.vonherzenbio.at/index.php?seitenId=11

Fruit crop/s:     apple, pear, peach and nectarine, plum, cherry, apricot

Level of the network:    national level

Network management:    farmers, the farmers employ a person for management

Network members:   farmers

Activities:   marketing      

Information dealt with:

  •  which products are required from the market
  •  strategic development of the organic market and the supply with organic fruit             
  •  quality management

1. Bio fruit growers group Flanders

Type of network: public

Number of members: 35

Website or address:  https://www.bioforumvlaanderen.be/, www.ccbt.nl, https://www.nobl.be/

Fruit crop/s apple, pear
Level of the network: regional level (Flanders)
Network members:  farmers, advisors, researchers
Activities: 

  • exchange of information, dissemination of information
  • elaboration of improved strategies
  • topics inventory for research and pass on to research
  • research steering group

Information dealt with:

  • orchard management
  • varieties and breeding
  • plant health care
  • soil management and fertilisation

2. Working group organic fruitgrowers GAWI Wallonia

Type of network: private and public

Number of members:

Website or address: http://www.asblgawi.com/ugaw.html

Fruit crop/s: apple, pear

Level of the network: regional level

Network members: farmers, advisors, researchers

Activities:

  • exchange of information, dissemination of information
  • elaboration of improved strategies
  • topics inventory for research and pass on to research

Information dealt with:

  • orchard management
  • varieties and breeding
  • plant health care
  • soil management and fertilisation

3. Novafruits- Heritage & sharing innovation

Type of network: public and private

Number of members: 29

Website or address: CRA-W http://www.cra.wallonie.be/ and CRRG http://www.enrx.fr/, http://www.biodimestica.eu/, http://certifruit.be/

Fruit crop/s: apple, pear

Level of the network: regional and international cross-border network (Walloon Region in Belgium and North-East region of France)

Network members:  farmers, advisors, researchers, breeders, nurseries

Activities:

  • participatory breeding programme of fruit genetic resources with
  • private growers (Organic and IPM)
  • selection and breeding of new varieties
  • collaboration agreements, marketing
  • exchange of information, dissemination of information

Information dealt with: varieties and breeding

1. Danube Fruit-Growing Union

Type of network: public

Number of members: 350

Website or address:

Fruit crop/s: apple, pear, peach and nectarine, plum, cherry, apricot, almond

Level of the network: international level, national level

Network members:farmers, advisors, marketing organisations, breeders

Activities:

  • exchange of information, dissemination of information
  • elaboration of improved strategies
  • training of fruit growers
  • marketing and fruits trade

Information dealt with:

  • orchard management
  • varieties and breeding
  • plant health care
  • soil management and fertilisation
  • publishing activity

Specialised subgroups 1. regional representations in different municipalities

2. Institute of Agriculture-Kyustendil

Type of network: public

Number of members: 35

Website or address: iz_kn@abv.bg

Fruit crop/s: apple, pear, plum, cherry

Level of the network: international level, national level, regional level

Network members: researchers

Activities: 

  • exchange of information, dissemination of information
  • elaboration of improved strategies
  • research and application activities

Information dealt with:

  • orchard management
  • varieties and breeding
  • plant health care
  • soil management and fertilisation
  • publishing activity

Specialised subgroups

  • 1. department Breeding, introduction and cultivars studies on crops
  • 2. department Agrotechnika, Plant protection and Economy on crops
  • 3. department Scientific service

3. National Agricultural Advisory Service (NAAS)

Type of network: public

Number of members: 

Website or address: http://www.naas.government.bg

Fruit crop/s: apple, pear, peach and nectarine, plum, cherry, apricot, almond

Level of the network: national level, regional level

Network members: farmers, advisors, researchers, marketing organisations

Activities: 

  • exchange of information, dissemination of information
  • elaboration of improved strategies
  • preparing free business plans

Information dealt with:

  • orchard management
  • varieties and breeding
  • plant health care
  • soil management and fertilisation

Specialised subgroups

  • 1. territorial offices in 27 regional towns in the country

4. Agricultural Academy – Sofia

Type of network: public

Number of members: 2800

Website or address:  ssa@agriacad.bg

Fruit crop/s: apple, pear, peach and nectarine, plum, cherry, apricot, almond

Level of the network: international level, national level

Network members: advisors, researchers, marketing organisations, certifiers, breeders

Activities: 

  • exchange of information, dissemination of information
  • elaboration of improved strategies

Information dealt with:

  • orchard management
  • varieties and breeding
  • plant health care
  • soil management and fertilisation
  • certification, rules and interpretation
  • publishing activity

Specialised subgroups : 1. the Academy includes: 25 scientific institutes, 4 experimental stations, 1 state-owned enterprise and the National Agricultural

No network identified

1. Institute of Horticulture

Type of network: NGO

Number of members: 256

Website or address: https://www.ecofarms.lt;

Fruit crop/s: apple, pear, plum, cherry

Level of the network: national level

Network management: farmers, advisors, researchers

Network members:  farmers, advisors, researchers

Activities:  exchange of information, dissemination of information, elaboration of improved strategies

Information dealt with:

  • orchard management
  • varieties and breeding
  • plant health care
  • soil management and fertilisation
  • certification, rules and interpretation

Specialised subgroups:

  1. working group apple
  2. working group of Agronomic Research and Variety Testing
  3. working group of plant pathology and entomology
  4. working group on processing and storage
  5. working group on certification and rules (pesticides, fertilizers…)

1. NLR organic network

Type of network: public

Number of members:

Website or address: https://www.nlr.no/

Fruit crop/s: apple

Level of the network: national level, regional level

Network management: advisors

Network members: advisors, farmers, researchers

Activities: exchange of information, dissemination of information, elaboration of improved strategies

Information dealt with: orchard management

Specialised subgroups: none

1. AGROBIO (Associação Portuguesa de Agricultura Biológica)

Type of network: private, NGO, association with farmers and consumers

Number of members: 8100

Website or address: https://agrobio.pt/

Fruit crop/s: apple, pear, peach, nectarine, cherry, almond, orange, lemon, others

Level of the network: national level

Network management: NGO staff

Network members: farmers, advisors, companies, consumers

Activities: exchange of information, dissemination of information, elaboration of improved strategies

Information dealt with:

  • orchard management
  • varieties and breeding
  • plant health care
  • soil management and fertilisation
  • certification, rules and interpretation

Specialised subgroups:  NONE

1. Organic fruit growers

Type of network: private

Number of members:

Website or address:

Fruit crop/s: apple, plum, cherry, apricot (also: sea buckthorn, walnut, blueberries)

Level of the network: regional level

Network management: farmers

Network members: farmers

Activities: exchange of information, dissemination of information

Information dealt with:

  • orchard management
  • varieties and breeding
  • plant health care
  • soil management and fertilisation
  • certification, rules and interpretation

Specialised subgroups:  none

1. FiBL

Type of network: Private fundation

Number of members: FiBL Frick (ca. 15), FiBL Lausanne (1), plus exchange with farmers at consultation appointments, at on-farm experience exchange days or at the annual organic fruit conference

Website or address: https://www.fibl.org/en.html

Fruit crop/s: apple, pear, plum, cherry, apricot

Level of the network: network at European level, exchange with advisors and researchers around Europe (e.g. Germany, Italy, France, Austria and other countries). Network at national level.

Network management: advisors, researchers

Network members: farmers, advisors, researchers

Activities: exchange of information, dissemination of information, elaboration of improved strategies

Information dealt with:

  • orchard management
  • varieties and breeding
  • plant health care
  • soil management and fertilisation
  • certification, rules and interpretation (country specific)

Specialised subgroups:

  1. working group fruit and berry cultivation techniquE
  2. working group phytopathology
  3. working group entomology & agroecology

1. Variety team pome fruits

Type of network: private

Number of members: 15, Includes also non-organic members

Website or address:

Fruit crop/s: apple, pear

Level of the network: network at national level

Network management: researchers

Network members: farmers, advisors, researchers, marketing organisations, breeders

Activities: exchange of information, dissemination of information

Information dealt with:  varieties and breeding

Specialised subgroups:  none

3. Variety team stone fruits

Type of network: public and private

Number of members: around 15, Includes also non-organic members

Website or address: none

Fruit crop/s: plum, cherry (sweet)

Level of the network: network at national level

Network management: researchers

Network members: farmers, advisors, researchers

Activities: exchange of information, dissemination of information

Information dealt with: varieties and breeding

Specialised subgroups: none

4. Working group apricots

Type of network: public and private foundation

Number of members: includes also non-organic members

Website or address: none

Fruit crop/s: apricot

Level of the network: network at international level, Switzerland, Germany

Network management: advisors

Network members: farmers, advisors, researchers

Activities: exchange of information, dissemination of information, elaboration of improved strategies

Information dealt with:

  • orchard management
  • varieties and breeding
  • plant health care
  • soil management and fertilisation

Specialised subgroups: none

5. SKOF conference of Swiss cantonal advisory centres

Type of network: public and private

Number of members: around 40, includes also non-organic members

Website or address: none

Fruit crop/s: apple, pear, plum, cherry, apricot

Level of the network: network at national level

Network management: advisors

Network members: advisors, researchers, people from the Federal Office of Agriculture of Switzerland (FOAG)

Activities: exchange of information, dissemination of information

Information dealt with:

  • orchard management
  • varieties and breedin
  • plant health care
  • soil management and fertilisation
  • certification, rules and interpretation (country specific)

Specialised subgroups:  none

6. Union Fruitière Lémanique (UFL)

Type of network: public and private

Number of members: 200, includes also non-organic members

Website or address: https://www.fruits-vaud-geneve.ch/

Fruit crop/s: apple, pear, peach and nectarine, plum, cherry, apricot

Level of the network: regional level

Network management: advisors

Network members: farmers, advisors

Activities: exchange of information, dissemination of information, elaboration of improved strategies, communication and promotion

Information dealt with:

  • orchard management
  • varieties and breeding
  • plant health care
  • soil management and fertilisation
  • certification, rules and interpretation (country specific)

Specialised subgroups:

  1. berries
  2. pears
  3. cherries

1. Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences Research Centre for Fruit Growing

Type of network: private

Number of members: 35

Website or address: www.uni-mate.hu

Fruit crop/s: stone fruits, nut tree species, small fruits

Level of the network: network at national level

Network management:  researchers

Network members: researchers, farmers

Information dealt with: variety and breeding, R+D+I about breeding of new fruit cultivars, genebank of fruit cultivars,  fruit growing technology     

Specialised subgroups:

  1. Plant protection
  2. Genebank
  3. Fruit breeding and evalation
  4. Fruit growing technology

Distribution of networks performing knowledge transfer in organic fruit production within selected countries in Europe

Collaborations

Biofruitnet will carry out collaborative actions with different stakeholders in organic fruit production, in order to establish synergies, strengthen  networks and ensure that the information obtained throughout the project reaches the greatest number of interested people.

This section will progressively include the main collaboration actions carried out with different actors related to organic fruit production.

It is expected that throughout the project the collaborations will be more frequent and will result in actions with a high potential impact.

In 1992, the Ecosocial Forum was founded as an independent platform for the further development and dissemination of the ecosocial idea. Today, the Ecosocial Forum is a think-tank committed to implementing the ecosocial market economy.

By creating a network of like-minded individuals and organisations in Austria and throughout Europe, they have succeeded in joining forces for the benefit of the ecosocial economic model. The Ecosocial Forum is not only dedicated to ecosocial action, but also serves as a platform for scientific and political exchange. They organise conferences and workshops, collect and communicate knowledge, and raise awareness of a socially and ecologically sustainable model of society and economy among experts from business, academia and politics, as well as the wider public.

Ecosocial Market Economy – The Idea

The eco-social market economy stands for social justice, environmental protection and climate action. At the same time, it supports economic operators and creates jobs. This is what Josef Riegler had in mind when he first presented this concept in 1989. The guiding principle of the eco-social market economy is to incorporate environmental aspects and to make the market serve the cause of environmental protection. This is to be achieved through real cost pricing, consistent application of the polluter pays principle and eco-social tax reform.

Cooperation with BIOFRUITNET

Recently, the Ecosocial Forum for Austria and Europe contacted the BIOFRUITNET project and offered its availability to disseminate information about the project through its newsletter, within its project “Agricultural and Forest Sciences: Scientific Communication and Needs Assessment”, funded by the BMLRT and the federal states. The project supports agricultural and forestry research to expand research results and raise awareness of the need for ongoing research projects. A way to create linkages and synergies between projects with similar objectives.

Click on the following link and access the result of this first collaboration with the Ecosocial Forum.

SmartProtect-SMART agriculture for innovative vegetable crop PROTECTion: harnessing advanced methodologies and technologies (GA 862563).

SmartProtect is a Thematic Network focusing on cross regional knowledge sharing of smart Integrated Pest Management (IPM) solutions for farmers and advisors. The aim is to stimulate knowledge flow in the regional Agriculture and Knowledge Innovation Systems (AKISs) across the EU and connect these on the innovative potential of advanced methodologies for IPM in vegetable production, integrating precision farming technologies and data analytics. For this purpose, SmartProtect has developed an online platform that functions as a freely accessible repository for IPM technologies and methodologies, and is available in https://platform.smartprotect-h2020.eu/.

The initial collaboration established with this project is based on sharing relevant information to enhance its impact and outreach.

Detailed information on the project SmartProtect-h2020 can be found at the following link.

The Organic Farm Knowledge (OFK) online platform intends to promote productivity, quality and sustainability of organic farming across Europe by providing access to a wide range of easy-to-use tools. It also aims to serve as a virtual meeting place for cross-border learning. The platform promotes the uptake and exchange of knowledge among farmers, farm advisers, and scientists.

The core of the platform is the “toolbox”. Available tools include, for instance, factsheets, online calculation tools, mobile applications, videos and more. The online platform offers the possibility to rate, comment and discuss tools and topics. By promoting the exchange of good practices, it supports farmers and advisors in putting innovations into practice.

In connection with the BIOFRUITNET project, OFK will publish the practice abstracts produced during the project, which will be available to all users in downloadable pdf format.

Low-Input Farming and Territories. Integrating knowledge for improving ecosystem-based farming

The overall goal of LIFT is to identify and understand how socio-economic and policy drivers impact on the development of ecological approaches to farming and assess the performance and sustainability of such approaches, taking into account different farming systems at farm, farm-group and territorial scales.

To meet this goal, LIFT will pursue the following scientific and technical objectives:

1. To investigate the socio-economic and policy drivers that hinder or enhance the development and adoption of ecological approaches to farming.

2. To evaluate and compare the performance and overall sustainability of farming systems across different levels of incorporation of ecological approaches and across different scales (from farms to territories).

3. To propose new private arrangements and new policy instruments which could improve performance and sustainability, and the development of ecological agriculture.

4. To produce comprehensive insights into ecological approaches based on a wide range of case studies and a mix of relevant methodologies (qualitative, quantitative, participatory approaches, modelling) and actors (scientists and a wide range of stakeholders).

5. To achieve targeted dissemination of results with free decision support tools and a massive open online course (MOOC), and reach out to students, policy makers and farm advisory services.

See the results of the project at the following link.

LIFT PROJECT

Life Vida for Citrus is a European project born with the purpose of protecting the citrus sector by developing disease-resistant plants, and with the idea of implementing environmentally friendly cultural practices that limit the development of the disease-transmitting vector and that contribute to reducing the carbon footprint and climate change.

LIFE Vida for Citrus also aims to develop a tool for rapid detection of the disease, which would greatly facilitate disease control.

Click here for more information.

Ecofruit is the biannual meeting on organic fruit production that brings together European organic fruit researchers, advisors and interested practitioners.

Ecofruit gives the opportunity to communicate and discuss the latest results connected with organic fruit production systems and their improvement, for networking, and starting new co-operations.

On the Ecofruit website, the proceedings of all the presentations and communications made during all the editions are published and accessible to the public. You can consult the proceedings from the 1989 to 2022 as pdf files here https://www.ecofruit.net/proceedings/. 

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