Optimizing strawberry yields in a changing climate -investment project

The investment project strengthens the capacity of the Optimising Strawberry Yield in a Changing Climate development project to achieve its goals, namely to develop new practices that improve the resource efficiency, profitability, and sustainability of strawberry cultivation under changing climate conditions. At the same time, the project enhances the research infrastructure at Luke’s Suonenjoki research station so that it is better suited for berry crop variety and growing‑media research, as well as studies on climate adaptation in cultivation.

The investment project includes the acquisition of a Bluetooth‑equipped spectrophotometer for measuring colour tones that indicate strawberry quality. In addition, fencing the new tunnel complex at the Suonenjoki research station will protect research equipment and experimental plants from animal damage and vandalism. A fertilizer mixer to be installed at the stress‑test field will reduce manual labour and enable the use of precise fertilizer recipes also in open‑field experiments.

PAR sensors will measure the amount of light available to plants, and leaf temperature sensors will help assess the effects of warming treatments carried out with infrared heaters. In the development project, the effects of UVC radiation and a biological control agent on pests and beneficial organisms will be compared. The irradiation will be carried out using a UVC irradiation robot developed at Luke, whose features will be improved through the investment project.