At pcfruit, we combine science and practice to make research truly relevant to the fruit sector. Researchers have access to well-managed trial fields, up-to-date cultivation data and direct collaboration with experienced cultivation advisers. This allows new insights and innovations to be tested quickly and translated into practical applications for fruit growers.

Whether it concerns crop research, variety trials, soil and leaf analyses or new cultivation techniques, we support researchers with the infrastructure, expertise and contacts needed to achieve results efficiently and reliably. In this way, we contribute together to innovative, sustainable and profitable fruit growing.

Every three years, the Professor Albert Soenen Foundation awards a prize for a doctoral thesis in agricultural and applied biological sciences that contributes to fruit growing.

About the Albert Soenen Award

Research departments

62.5 ha of experimental orchards

The experimental garden for strawberries and ligneous small fruits aims to transfer the results of applied agricultural research to practice and to conduct comparative research in response to growers' needs. Research focuses on new varieties and cultivation techniques for strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, red currants, black currants, and blueberries. Key topics include variety evaluation, harvest scheduling and protection, tunnel systems, substrate cultivation, irrigation and fertigation management. New cultivation techniques are tested, and existing practices are optimized where necessary, with a strong emphasis on sustainable production and improving the economic performance of soft fruit enterprises. Research results are regularly presented to growers through demonstration events and knowledge-sharing activities.

In addition, the Viticulture Knowledge Centre is part of the department. At the experimental vineyard, research includes variety evaluation as well as the testing of leaf removal and pruning techniques. Wine analyses are carried out in the laboratory, and vinification is also performed at pcfruit, enabling the complete production process from vineyard to wine to be evaluated under practical conditions.

The experimental garden for pome and stone fruits is the official Belgian experimental garden for apples, pears, and cherries and conducts demonstration trials for professional fruit growers. Research focuses on variety evaluation and cultivation techniques for apples, pears, cherries, and plums, with particular attention to planting systems, pruning strategies, rootstocks, fruit set, thinning, planting densities, storage techniques, and the development and evaluation of robust and disease-resistant varieties.

Research in apples and pears also covers fertilization, soil management, hail protection, and crop reliability. The aim is to optimize both production volume and fruit quality, including size and marketability. Fertilization recommendations increasingly take into account legal restrictions concerning residual nutrient levels in soil and surface water.

For cherries, research focuses on pruning and training systems, the prevention of fruit cracking, and shelf-life improvement through hydrocooling. Optimal dipping times are determined for individual varieties to maximize post-harvest quality. Together, these research activities contribute to improving the sustainability, quality, and economic return of pome and stone fruit production in Flanders.

Environment & technology and Plant research & management

These departments conduct applied scientific research into innovative, efficient and environmentally sustainable fruit production techniques. Their work focuses on optimising cultivation practices such as pruning, fruit set and fruit thinning, weed control, frost protection, fertilisation and fertigation, irrigation, and growth regulation. They also investigate the physiological processes underlying crop development, yield consistency and fruit quality.

Both departments explore technological innovations in fruit production, including mechanisation, precision agriculture, spray technology and spray drift reduction, as well as the use of sensors, camera-based monitoring, image analysis, drones, robotics and data analysis. They evaluate machinery and technologies designed to reduce labour requirements, improve operational efficiency and minimise environmental impact.

Their research also focuses on automating cultivation practices and developing new methods for field data collection, data analysis and modelling. By translating research findings into practical tools and decision-support systems, the departments help fruit growers make informed decisions and optimise cultivation practices. Their research is carried out through a range of research projects and, where relevant, in collaboration with the crop protection industry, contributing to the development of innovative products and more sustainable fruit production systems.

Phytopathology

Focus on the study of fungal and bacterial diseases affecting fruit crops in Belgium. Research activities include disease monitoring, epidemiology, residue studies, and the development of both chemical and biological control strategies. Particular attention is given to important diseases such as apple scab, fruit rot, and powdery mildew.

The department evaluates new crop protection products and alternative control measures, while developing integrated disease management strategies that support sustainable fruit production. Research also includes the design of anti-resistance programmes, aimed at optimizing the timing and use of available fungicide groups within treatment schedules.

Through disease forecasting and monitoring systems, growers receive timely warnings and practical recommendations on disease risks, enabling efficient and well-targeted interventions in the orchard.

Zoology

This department focuses on the insects and other organisms that influence fruit production, ranging from beneficial species that support crop health to pests that cause economic damage. Research covers chemical and biological control strategies for a wide range of fruit pests, with particular attention to the interactions between pests, natural enemies, and selective crop protection products within integrated pest management (IPM) systems.

The department evaluates the effectiveness and environmental impact of crop protection products and develops innovative, sustainable control strategies. Particular emphasis is placed on strengthening biological control through the conservation and use of beneficial organisms in fruit-growing systems.

Through the monitoring and warning service, data on insect populations and climatic conditions are continuously collected and analysed. These observations form the basis for practical warnings and recommendations that enable growers to intervene in a timely and efficient manner while reducing environmental impact and supporting sustainable fruit production.