DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF FRUIT TREE AGROECOSYSTEM SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT BASED ON THE ASSESSMENT OF CLIMATE CHANGES IMPACT USING NUMERIC MODELS AND SATELLITE TECHNIQUES

POMOSAT (sustainable fruit - growing - modeling - satellite techniques)

Abstract

The probable impact of climate changes on the environment and, implicitly, on the fruit tree agroecosystem is a comprehensive and complex topic. The aim of this project is to investigate the potential impact of climate changes on fruit tree species development and growth, and the impact of the diseases and pests attacking these cultures, using regional climate numeric models, impact models and the latest satellite monitoring techniques. Creating a complex database of climate records, satellite images, field and laboratory observations and measurements, the members of the consortium established through this project will create a sustainable fruit farm management system. The system will be coordinated by the Integrated Fruit-Growing Research Center from Bucharest University of Agronomic Science and Veterinary Medicine (USAMV), through a central data collection and storage unit. The field meteorological data will be transmitted, using the GSM system, to the automatic stations existing at the farms (one at the USAMV Didactic Field, one at Moara Domneasca and two on Dambovita Valley, in Manesti and Voinesti). Two of the partners, the National Meteorology Administration (ANM) and the Mathematics and Computer Science Department from Bucharest Technical University of Civil Engineering (UTCB) will be responsible for updating the database and managing the mathematical models. The third partner, Dambovita Fruit Growers Association, will be the main beneficiary of the consortium's research activity results, by direct access, via internet, to the center's web page. This page will offer free access to important information for fruit growers: analysis of the climate parameters influencing the fruit-growing ecosystem and the estimated evolution of these parameters, disease and pest attack forecast, precipitations forecast, news regarding fruit tree and bush ranges, non-polluting culture technologies, production certification systems, fruit market, etc. Also, the site will offer useful information to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forests and to other institutions monitoring the regional and national fruit-growing situation as regards the current condition of plantations, land areas occupied by trees, whether-control elements, etc. The system created within this project may also be extended to other fruit tree areas in the country, requiring minimum expenses. Thus, a dynamic structure will be created, integrating education, research and development units, public institutions, producers' associations, farmers' associations, etc., whose aim is to increase the economic competitiveness of fruit farms, to reduce inputs, to increase food security and to reduce the negative environmental impact. Taking into consideration the emergence, in the near future, of a Romanian computerized society, the system created by this consortium may be integrated into the national computerized system as a component representing the field discussed.


PROJECT MANAGER: Prof. Dr. Florin STANICA (Bucharest University of Agronomic Science and Veterinary Medicine)