Towards fruit and vegetable crops with high environmental performance

In France, fruit and vegetable production – which accounts for less than 2 per cent of the utilised agricultural area (UAA) – is characterised by the diversity of crops grown and the wide range of cultivation systems, which can have varying environmental impacts. Faced with the new challenges of developing horticulture in the broadest sense to achieve high environmental performance, INRA is contributing to research aimed at reducing the environmental impact of these crops and designing innovative cropping systems. The main findings from recent years relate to the optimisation of greenhouse climate management, optimised irrigation and fertilisation practices, the development of multi-resistant varieties and the sustainable management of resistance to pests and diseases, and the development of innovative cropping systems that minimise phytosanitary risks. In addition to research into organic farming, the development of integrated fruit crop protection and, more recently, integrated biological protection in greenhouses represent significant contributions to this approach to environmental protection. INRA’s current approaches are more comprehensive and focus on the study of cropping systems characterised by low inputs and high environmental and economic performance. These require methods for modelling complex systems and involve multiple partnerships. To further these issues and conduct research into them, INRA is strengthening its liaison structures, notably through Scientific Interest Groups (GIS) such as the GIS PIClég and, very soon, the GIS ‘Fruits’