Brandenburg's apples are blooming: record harvest at risk despite climate change!

Brandenburg's apples are blooming: record harvest at risk despite climate change!

The 2025 apple season is in full swing and Brandenburg's fruit growers are looking forward to the coming months with a smile. After a difficult previous year in which only 3,200 tons of apples were harvested, around 21,300 tons are now expected. This represents a tremendous recovery that puts the 771 hectares of apple cultivation area in Brandenburg in a new, encouraging light. The apple has established itself as the country's most important fruit, and the most popular varieties such as Elstar, Pinova and Jonagold are very popular.

But the joy of the good harvest is overshadowed by challenges. Climate change is causing problems for fruit growers. Extreme weather conditions such as heavy rain, drought and hail have occurred more and more frequently in recent years and are putting a strain on businesses. The horticultural association is therefore calling on politicians to take measures to protect companies, for example through insurance solutions and subsidies for weather protection, in order to counteract the uncertainty. How Spreeradio reports, there is a push for effective water supply and new cultivation strategies to secure yields.

Climate change as a constant companion

Research and fruit growing experts agree: climate change not only brings changes in weather conditions, but also postpones flowering times. The start of flowering for many fruit trees has shifted forward by around two weeks in recent decades. This increases the risk of damage from late frosts, which can destroy delicate flowers. For many companies, this means that they have to invest in frost protection systems and irrigation to avoid loss of yield. An online event discussed the importance of robust apple varieties in order to cope with dwindling crop protection options and increased sustainability requirements. This is also where the MaKOWIZ project comes in, which deals intensively with innovative breeding in fruit and wine growing Plant research can be read.

Climate change is already having an impact on the apple harvest: high temperatures and longer dry periods lead to yield losses of up to 40 percent, which can threaten the existence of many fruit farmers. In addition, the new climatic conditions promote the spread of pests and diseases. Multiple generations of pest insects, such as the codling moth, may become more common, while the increase in pathogens poses an additional challenge. Alternatives such as hail protection nets also require large investments to protect the fruit harvest from the whims of nature. Agriculture.de emphasizes that rising temperatures and the associated increase in solar radiation represent a constant challenge for fruit growers.

How the 2025 apple season will develop remains to be seen, but the combination of optimistic harvest forecasts and the pressing challenges posed by climate change shows that fruit growers in Brandenburg need a good hand in order to continue to be successful in the future.