Agribusiness

Fruit and vegetables: innovation in the field to tackle the climate crisis

Research into new varieties focuses not only on flavour and resistance to pests, drought or heavy rain, but also on extending the periods during which they are available: this increases profitability for farms

by Manuela Soressi

16 September 2026

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4' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Key points

A difficult summer for fruit and vegetables
Production on a downward trend
Research extends the seasons
Exotic fruit and early-ripening, hardy varieties
Apples all year round and grapes at Christmas
(Too?) demanding consumers

4' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Can yellow watermelons, red kiwis, tiger melons or grapes that ‘taste’ of candy floss really be regarded as nothing more than curious but fleeting novelties? And can Italian strawberries on sale as early as January, or ‘Made in Italy’ blueberries available in April, still be called early-season produce? In reality, they are merely the first ‘fruits’ of the innovation that is profoundly changing the world of fruit and vegetables, starting with genetic improvement and varietal development, moving on to Agriculture 4.0 and precision technologies, and ultimately changing agronomic practices and revolutionising production and marketing calendars. And finally, this is also reshaping the range of produce that Italian consumers find on the market, weather permitting.

A difficult summer for fruit and vegetables

As happened this summer when the exceptional weather conditions, with extreme temperatures, hailstorms and water shortages, disrupted many production plans, resulting in total damage to agriculture estimated at between 2 and 3 billion (Coldiretti figure). However, the weather favoured melons and watermelons, even though it brought forward their harvests by shortening the growing season, and complicated the availability of apricots and cherries. Peaches, nectarines and ‘percoche’ peaches, on the other hand, are indeed rounding off a very positive season, particularly in the North, but are suffering from supply exceeding market demand (resulting in a fall in wholesale prices at times of peak supply). This year’s situation is no exception.

Production on a downward trend

The difficulties caused by adverse weather conditions, combined with rising production costs and fiercer international competition, have had a significant impact on the Italian fruit-growing sector. Data from Istat on 14 types of fruit for the period 2006–2025 show that, out of the 14 fruits, as many as 11 recorded a fall in production (particularly pears, peaches and nectarines, oranges and cherries), whilst only three showed an increase: clementines (+20.3 per cent), kiwis (+17.8 per cent) and apples (+13.2 per cent).

Research extends the seasons

“We find ourselves in a complex situation in which climate change, extreme weather events, new plant diseases and rising production costs are causing difficulties for the agricultural sector, and where research is called upon to maximise yields and reduce environmental impact,” explains Milena Petriccione, director of CREA’s Olive, Fruit and Citrus Cultivation Department (OFA). Growers are calling for plants that are more resistant to stress (including water stress), which produce fruit with good organoleptic characteristics and are able to maintain these qualities throughout the entire growing season.

Products must be available for longer periods so as to offer greater choice for more months of the year and encourage greater variety in Italian consumption. And companies’ profitability needs to be improved, because extending their market presence allows production volumes to be spread over more months of the year, makes better use of facilities and the workforce, and ensures the continued availability of Italian products in the retail sector, positioning them as a viable alternative to imported goods.

Innovation in fruit growing is therefore taking place across the board. Through genetic improvement and assisted evolution techniques (TEA), more productive varieties will be developed, which are more disease-resistant and more resilient in the face of increasingly extreme weather, whilst the use of chemicals and water consumption are reduced. Precision technologies and Agriculture 4.0 are innovating and improving farming practices, whilst increasing mechanisation is making it possible to reduce the use of labour – for example, during the harvest – not only for cost reasons but also due to the difficulty in finding workers.

Exotic fruit and early-ripening, hardy varieties

It is not just how things are produced that is changing, but also what is produced. Whilst the development of exotic fruit grown in Italy (such as mangoes and avocados) is making the headlines, in reality the entire production landscape has changed – and not just because of climate change. The introduction of very early varieties, such as peaches that ripen in May, or very late ones, such as February clementines, has extended the availability of many products, which consumers can now find on sale even at less traditional times of year. Work on the shelf life of these new varieties has also contributed significantly to this outcome.

It is not enough for the fruit to ripen earlier or later than usual; it must also withstand handling well and last longer after harvesting. This means they can remain fresh and attractive for longer and be stored for longer without any problems in cold stores and at points of sale, reducing the risk of waste throughout the entire supply chain. As fruit continues to ‘live’ even after harvesting, a great deal of work has gone into preservation techniques, ranging from the use of modified atmospheres to the introduction of edible coatings that limit the fruit’s transpiration.

Apples all year round and grapes at Christmas

And so high-quality apples are now available 12 months a year, whilst Apulian table grapes can be enjoyed right up until Christmas. For producers, this is not just an increase in supply but also the opportunity to tap into new market segments. ‘Two years ago, our yellow kiwis were available until the first ten days of February; last year we made it to March, and now we’re aiming for the first ten days of April,’ explains Ernesto Fornari, managing director of Apofruit, a co-operative with over 2,700 producer members across Italia – “If we can store them whilst maintaining their quality, we can cover the market for longer and get closer to the start of the new harvest from the southern hemisphere.”

(Too?) Demanding consumers

In addition to the requirements set by producers and distributors, there are the expectations (and sometimes the demands) of consumers, who want fruit that is sweeter, more fragrant and more colourful, as well as easier to eat – in other words, small, seedless and almost skinless. This explains the success of mini watermelons, seedless grapes, yellow kiwis, snack apples and red apricots. But also of fruit with ‘guaranteed’ ripeness, as demonstrated by Coop Alleanza 3.0 with its ‘Colta Matura’ range, where, thanks to forecasting data and collaboration with producers, it is able to plan harvests more effectively, reducing waste and offering seasonal fruit harvested only when it is truly ready to be enjoyed.