El Strawberry Contact Group of France, Italy, Spain and Portugal, made up of representatives of associations of producers and exporters, including Freshuelva-Fepex and those responsible for their respective administrations, is firmly committed to technological innovation to confront the consequences of climate change, that directly affect all phases of red fruit production.

At a meeting held in Portugal, the sectors of the countries represented have highlighted the need to introduce new agriculture systems 4.0, as control unit installations for monitoring of climatic data and phenological phases, in order to identify the most appropriate times for the distribution of adequate amounts of water and fertilizers, in order to adjust the consumption of water and nutrients for crops.

Likewise, have highlighted the importance of investing in genetic research to develop crop varieties resistant to water and heat stress and that respond, at the same time, to the taste demands of the consumer.

European producers have also agreed to demand greater involvement from the European Union to ensure that their products access European markets under the same conditions as those from third countries. In this sense, have explained that the increase in production costs, climatic adversities and the demands of community and local phytosanitary regulations, which third countries do not have to face, They cause imbalances in the main European strawberry markets, which do not make them profitable.

At the meeting held in Portugal, producers have also agreed on the creation of a European Zonal Registry for Phytosanitary Products, in order to harmonize the registration system and reduce many of the obstacles it currently has.

Reduction of hectares in Spain

The Strawberry Contact Group carried out an analysis of the campaign on which Freshuelva, representative of Spain in this contact group, through FEPEX, highlighted that the last campaign resulted in a 10% decrease in exports, mainly due to the climatic adversities suffered at the beginning and end of the campaign.

Regarding the present, he stressed that planted hectares have decreased by 3%, pointing to “a lot of uncertainty” with which this exercise is faced, which already began with problems in the plantation that forced 30% of the plants to be replanted due to climatic adversities.

France, Italy and Portugal

For its part, the French sector, headed by the head of the Association of Strawberry Producer Organizations of France, AOP Fraise de France, Xavier Mas, pointed out the difficulties of production in the last campaign, which resulted in 60.000 tons destined exclusively for national consumption. France highlighted the significant increase in the cost price of French strawberries for the current campaign, in which the hectares of strawberries planted remain stable.

The Italian delegation, made up of representatives of companies and organizations such as Fruitimprese, Italia Ortofrutta or Confragricoltura, pointed out that the 2023 strawberry campaign was very satisfactory. The market has recognized the high average positioning of the Italian product and consequently the prices obtained have rewarded the producers well. However, by 2024 Italy registers a slight decrease in invested surfaces and greenhouse crops gain one percentage point.

Finally, the portuguese delegation reported the notable growth experienced both in hectares and in tonnage of raspberries, a product in which the Portuguese country is acquiring a prominent position.

Likewise, they have also stressed that, despite the significant increase in hectares of strawberries in recent years, Portugal continues to have the need to import product, especially Spanish, to meet all national demand, emphasizing that the last campaign has been “very complicated by the decrease in production, higher costs and greater customer requirements.”

Diversification of other berries

The Contact Group It has also analyzed the evolution of red fruit production in the member countries, revealing a commitment by the European sector to the diversification of other products such as raspberries, blueberries and blackberries, led by Spanish production. who has several more years of experience.

Along with the professionals from the four countries, representatives from the Ministries of Agriculture of each country also participated in the meeting of the strawberry contact group from France, Italy, Portugal and Spain, before the entire group visited an exploitation farm and the Fataca Innovation Center (INIAV) in Odemira.

The strawberry contact group of France, Italy, Spain and Portugal It is made up of representatives of the associations of producers and exporters, including Freshuelva-Fepex and those responsible for their respective administrations. It has met every campaign for more than 20 years and is one of the product contact groups created within the framework of the Joint Committee on Fruits and Vegetables, to which the main conclusions of this meeting will now be raised.