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FFL-JA-Forskningsmidlene for jordbruk og matindustri

TastyStrawberry: Sustainable optimization of modern cultivation practice for taste improvement of Norwegian strawberries

Alternative title: Bærekraftig optimalisering av vekstbetingelser for god smak i norske jordbær dyrket i substrat

Awarded: NOK 4.6 mill.

Strawberry is an important berry specie with long traditions in Norway. Norwegian berries have a high status among consumers. The climate in Norway is suited to produce strawberries with excellent taste, but the season is short and the consumers' desire for strawberries around the year has led to a sharp increase in imports in recent years. If Norwegian strawberries are to compete with imported berries during the growing season and retain their high status, it is important to focus on quality. The opening of import of strawberry plants, have given new possibilities for production. The high yield potential of imported strawberry plants combined with growing in substrate in high plastic tunnels meets many of the challenges for strawberry production in Norway. In extension of this, production of strawberries in greenhouses and in closed systems have also become relevant. In parallel with new production systems and increased import, the taste-quality of Norwegian berries has been challenged. A question that has been raised is: "Why is there so little difference in the taste of Norwegian and imported strawberries?". However, strawberry taste is complex and specific, and preferences change with several factors, such as age and gender. Strawberry flavor is a complex interaction between sugar, acid, and aroma substances. Since the ripening process stops at harvest, the content of these cannot be changed after picking. Cultivar, cultivation practices, temperature and light are factors that alone and in combination can affect the quality of taste. The role of the cultivation factors in modern production systems must be understood in order to improve the consumer's taste experience and optimize the quality of the final product. TastyStrawberry's main goal is therefore to develop new knowledge that will create a basis for optimizing the taste of strawberries produced in modern production systems during an extended growing season in Norway.

Strawberry is an important berry specie with long traditions in Norway. The Norwegian strawberries have a high status among consumers and are famous for its excellent taste. Despite this preference, there have been a sharp increase in strawberry imports, especially outside the Norwegian season. However, new opportunities for production have made it possible to combine the high yield potential of the imported strawberry plants with cultivation in substrate under high plastic tunnels. Also, greenhouse production and production in closed systems have become relevant for strawberry production in Norway. However, in parallel with development of new production systems and increasing imports, the taste and flavour quality of Norwegian berries have been challenged. Studies of consumer taste preferences emphasizes the importance of sweetness and the intensity of strawberry flavour. The strawberry taste is complicated and specific, and preferences is affected by several factors such as age and gender. Meeting the strawberry flavour preferences is a complex interaction between sugars, acids, and aroma substances. It is nevertheless known that the taste and flavour experience is reduced by factors which decrease the total content of aroma substances and sugars, and increase the acid content. Since the ripening process for strawberry stops at harvest, the quality cannot be improved after picking. The role of preharvest factors under modern production systems must be understood to improve consumers approval and optimize the end-product. Genotype/cultivar, cultivation practice and temperature/light are all factors that alone and in combination is proven to affect taste quality. The main goal of StrawberryTaste is therefore to develop R&D-based knowledge that will create a basis for optimizing external factors for the best possible taste of strawberries produced in modern production systems in Norway, in step with increased value creation of Norwegian berries.

Funding scheme:

FFL-JA-Forskningsmidlene for jordbruk og matindustri