Science-Driven Horticulture Takes Center Stage at FRUIT LOGISTICA 2026

The future of fruit and vegetable production and postharvest management will take centre stage at FRUIT LOGISTICA 2026 with the FRUTIC Science Symposium, held on 6 February 2026 from 10:00 to 14:30 on the Farming Forward Stage. Organized in cooperation with the Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB), the symposium will explore how robotics, imaging technologies, sensor networks and data-driven decision tools are transforming the supply of horticultural products worldwide.

Under the theme "Farming Forward: Science for Sustainable Fruit Production", leading experts, researchers and representatives from international networks will present findings and applied solutions designed to improve resource efficiency, resilience to climate stress and postharvest quality. The event features four thematic sessions, poster presentations as pitches and opportunities for networking between research and industry.

Session 1 – Alliance for Fruit Growing, Viticulture and Vegetable Cultivation

Moderated by Manuela Zude-Sasse (ATB, Germany), this session introduces research alliances driving innovation in fruit production. Henryk Flachowsky (JKI, Germany) will present sensor-based detection of flower bud development and drought-stress tolerance. Frederik Kurz (Research Center Laimburg, Italy) will highlight AI-assisted pruning technologies, followed by Angelo Zanella (Research Center Laimburg, Italy) on controlled atmosphere storage, and Nico Tapia Zapata (ATB, Germany) on temperature impacts on tomato shelf life.

Manuela Zude-Sasse, Group Leader Precision Horticulture at Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB)

Session 2 – Hyperspectral Tools and Fruit Quality Prediction

Moderated by Reza Ehsani (University of California, Merced, USA)

This session focuses on spectral imaging and sensing to optimize yield and quality. George Manganaris (Cyprus University of Technology) will examine how agrivoltaics and netting systems influence raspberry quality. Atsushi Hashimoto (Mie University, Japan) will present citrus growth monitoring using imaging technologies. Norhashila Hashim (Universiti Putra Malaysia) will discuss AI-integrated hyperspectral detection for mango disease prevention, and Jose Blasco (IVIA, Spain) will evaluate hyperspectral prediction of loquat quality at harvest.

Session 3 – FruitCREWS: Smart Irrigation and Water Management

Moderated by Brunella Morandi (University of Bologna, Italy)

This session presents insights from the FruitCREWS COST Action on sensing and decision-support systems in irrigation. Pasquale Losciale (University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Italy) will introduce sensor-based monitoring of tree water status. Martin Mészáros (Research and Breeding Institute Holovousy, Czech Republic) will discuss irrigation scheduling in fruit crops. Kathy Steppe (Ghent University, Belgium) will explore interpretation of sensor data using plant models, and Alon Ben-Gal (Volcani Institute, Israel) will present decision-support tools for precision irrigation.

Session 4 – Postharvest Technologies and Quality Optimization

Moderated by Helene Fotouo Makouate (ATB, Germany)

This session explores digitalization and robotics for postharvest quality improvement. Reza Ehsani (University of California, Merced) will present an autonomous robotic platform for leaf-level sensing. Amnon Lichter (Volcani Institute, Israel) will introduce ethanol-based approaches to extend fruit storage. Angelos Deltsidis (University of Georgia, USA) will discuss NIR spectroscopy for peach maturity classification, and Tuany Hoffmann (ATB, Germany) will present SensorTwin, a multi-parameter system for cold-storage optimization.

Pitches – Innovation in Action

Short communication pitches will present research on cold-storage management (Kompetenzzentrum Obstbau Bodensee, Germany), tree architecture (Plant & Food, New Zealand), drip-irrigation automation (Universiti Putra Malaysia), solar drying and ohmic heating technologies (Universiti Putra Malaysia), long-term chlorophyll fluorescence monitoring in apples (FRUIT-GUARD®, Fruit Advisory Service of the Altes Land, Germany), 3D imaging for digital quality tracking (ATB, Germany) and drone-based air-pattern analysis and variable-rate spraying systems (Polytechnic University of Catalonia, Spain; Shanghai Institute of Technology, China).

A Platform for Collaboration and Innovation

By uniting scientists, technology developers and industry stakeholders, the FRUTIC Science Symposium at FRUIT LOGISTICA 2026 offers an opportunity to exchange knowledge and foster partnerships for a more resilient, efficient and sustainable fruit and vegetable sector.