GATE5.0 Open Call · Funded by the European Union · Ongoing

ORCHID — Orchard Resource Conservation through Heat-stress Imaging & Diagnostics

Heatwaves are cutting the size, quality and value of Mediterranean pear crops, and growers have no objective way to know which varieties can cope. ORCHID uses radiometric thermal imaging and VIS-NIR field spectroscopy to monitor 26 pear genotypes in commercial orchards in Türkiye, France and Italy during natural heatwave events, producing a Heat Tolerance Score for each variety and a Decision-Support Matrix for breeders, nurseries and growers.

Objectives

Monitor 26 pear genotypes under real heatwave conditions in three countries with portable thermal and spectral instruments.

Derive a Heat Tolerance Score per genotype from the Crop Water Stress Index and spectral stress indicators.

Deliver a web-based Decision-Support Matrix and demonstrate the service with early-adopter nurseries.

Partners

Potamia Fruit Breeding R&D Ltd (Eskişehir, Türkiye) — fruit breeding, pilot orchards and nursery network

Aridex Ltd (Nicosia, Cyprus) — sensing, data analytics and decision-support tool

At a glance

Programme: GATE5.0 Open Call (Euroclusters), coordinated by Associació Clúster Digital de Catalunya

Aridex role: Sub-project leader

Technologies: thermal imaging, VIS-NIR spectroscopy, computer vision, AI and data analytics

Grant Agreement No. 101236973

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or EISMEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.