Horticultural Systems – from fork to farm © ETH Zürich Strawberries Salomeh Ahmadi Abhari, Diana Niklaus, Daniel Fröhlich

ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT OF THE AGRI-FOOD CHAIN POLICY INSTRUMENTS FOR SUSTAINABILITY IN ECOSYSTEM SERVICES 8. Mai 2008 Horticultural Systems 2 2 Overview  Introduction  Consumers  Material and Methods  Results  Conclusion and Discussion  References Overview Introduction Consumers Materials and Methods Results Conclusion and Discussion References

ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT OF THE AGRI-FOOD CHAIN POLICY INSTRUMENTS FOR SUSTAINABILITY IN ECOSYSTEM SERVICES 8. Mai 2008 Horticultural Systems 3 3 Introduction  Botanical classification: family of Rosaceae  Origin  Romans → cultivation of woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca) → small fruits  New World → new varieties from north- and southamerica → bigger fruits  Our garden strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa)  Cultivation: soil culture or soilless-cultures  More than 1‘000 varieties with different characteristics Overview Introduction Consumers Materials and Methods Results Conclusion and Discussion References

ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT OF THE AGRI-FOOD CHAIN POLICY INSTRUMENTS FOR SUSTAINABILITY IN ECOSYSTEM SERVICES 8. Mai 2008 Horticultural Systems 4 4 Consumers  On demand: Taste > without chemical residues > health value But also appearance (brightness, size, colour)  Recent trends: Appearance, storability, transportability, agronomic parameters have been improved  But: Sensory quality hasn’t been improved  Our focus: Link parameters from lab analysis with consumer panels to improve the sensory quality. Overview Introduction Consumers Materials and Methods Results Conclusion and Discussion References

ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT OF THE AGRI-FOOD CHAIN POLICY INSTRUMENTS FOR SUSTAINABILITY IN ECOSYSTEM SERVICES 8. Mai 2008 Horticultural Systems 5 5 Materials and Methods  Material CodeRetailerPrice per Kg (CHF) Number of strawberries in each batch AMIGROS BCarrefour CCarrefour DPAM Overview Introduction Consumers Materials and Methods Results Conclusion and Discussion References

ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT OF THE AGRI-FOOD CHAIN POLICY INSTRUMENTS FOR SUSTAINABILITY IN ECOSYSTEM SERVICES 8. Mai 2008 Horticultural Systems 6 6 Materials and Methods  Firmness → Penetrometer  Sugar content → Refractometer  Acidity → pH-Meter (Titration)  Hedonic consumer test with categorisation: Scale of the sensory quality score (SQS) from 1 (very bad) to 9 (excellent). Overview Introduction Consumers Materials and Methods Results Conclusion and Discussion References

ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT OF THE AGRI-FOOD CHAIN POLICY INSTRUMENTS FOR SUSTAINABILITY IN ECOSYSTEM SERVICES 8. Mai 2008 Horticultural Systems 7 7 Results - Sensory quality scores of different cultivars of strawberries  Significant differences  Variations for 2006 > 2007  2006: Best → MB / Worst → Ma  2007: Best → Ca / Worst → Da Ca=Carezza, Da=Darselect, El=Elsanta, MB=Mara des Bois, Ml=Madeleine, Ma=Marmolada, Pe=Pegasus, Ra=Rauricar Overview Introduction Consumers Materials and Methods Results Conclusion and Discussion References

ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT OF THE AGRI-FOOD CHAIN POLICY INSTRUMENTS FOR SUSTAINABILITY IN ECOSYSTEM SERVICES 8. Mai 2008 Horticultural Systems 8 8 Results – Consumers vs. Lab analysis  Sugar content ↑ → SQS ↑  Acidity → SQS?  Volatile compounds↑ → SQS↑ CTC 2006 Sensory quality score Soluble solids (°Brix) Titrable acidity Volatile compounds Soluble solids (°Brix) Titrable acidity Volatile compounds Overview Introduction Consumers Materials and Methods Results Conclusion and Discussion References

ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT OF THE AGRI-FOOD CHAIN POLICY INSTRUMENTS FOR SUSTAINABILITY IN ECOSYSTEM SERVICES 8. Mai 2008 Horticultural Systems 9 9 Results – Our Lab analysis  Firmness ↑ → Acceptability ↑ >>>> Migros is the best  Sugar content: 8 °Brix for good quality >>>> Bad quality same range  Acidity: Highest: Migros and lowest for Carrefour 2 TypeFirmnessSugar contentAcidity Durofel 50SCV°BrixmI NaOHg acid/I juice A B C D Overview Introduction Consumers Materials and Methods Results Conclusion and Discussion References

ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT OF THE AGRI-FOOD CHAIN POLICY INSTRUMENTS FOR SUSTAINABILITY IN ECOSYSTEM SERVICES 8. Mai 2008 Horticultural Systems 10 Conclusion and Discussion  Sensory quality score can vary from year to year within a cultivar  There’s a positive correlation for both the sugar content and volatile compounds with sensory quality score.  There’s no clear correlation between acidity and sensory quality score.  Measurements in the lab reveals the sugar content is very low due to the fact that they were imported from Spain.  The NIR as a non-destructive method enables to receive results faster and catches more fruit characteristics. Overview Introduction Consumers Materials and Methods Results Conclusion and Discussion References

ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT OF THE AGRI-FOOD CHAIN POLICY INSTRUMENTS FOR SUSTAINABILITY IN ECOSYSTEM SERVICES 8. Mai 2008 Horticultural Systems 11 References  C- Carlen, A. M. P Overview Introduction Consumers Materials and Methods Results Conclusion and Discussion References