FRUIT LOGISTICA 2026 will place scientific innovation at the forefront of global horticulture with the annual FRUTIC Science Symposium, scheduled for 6 February 2026 from 10:00 to 14:30 on the Farming Forward Stage. Organised in cooperation with the Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB), the event will examine how robotics, imaging systems, sensor networks and data-driven decision tools are reshaping production and postharvest management across the fruit and vegetable sector.

Framed under the theme “Farming Forward: Science for Sustainable Fruit Production,” this year’s programme brings together researchers, technologists and industry stakeholders to discuss advances aimed at improving resource efficiency, climate resilience and product quality. Four technical sessions and a set of poster-pitch presentations will showcase applied research with direct commercial relevance, supported by extensive networking opportunities.

Research Alliances Highlighted In Opening Session

The first session, moderated by Manuela Zude-Sasse of ATB (Germany), will introduce research alliances working on future production systems. Presentations include work by Henryk Flachowsky (JKI, Germany) on sensor-based detection of flower-bud development and drought-stress tolerance, alongside updates from the Research Center Laimburg in Italy: Frederik Kurz will outline AI-assisted pruning technologies, while Angelo Zanella will focus on developments in controlled-atmosphere storage. Nico Tapia Zapata (ATB, Germany) will discuss how temperature conditions influence tomato shelf life.

Hyperspectral Imaging And Predictive Quality Tools

Session two, chaired by Reza Ehsani (University of California, Merced, USA), will centre on spectral imaging and sensing technologies. George Manganaris (Cyprus University of Technology) will examine how agrivoltaics and netting systems affect raspberry yield and quality. Atsushi Hashimoto (Mie University, Japan) will present research on image-based citrus growth monitoring, followed by Norhashila Hashim (Universiti Putra Malaysia) on AI-integrated hyperspectral detection for mango disease prevention. Jose Blasco (IVIA, Spain) will close the session with findings on hyperspectral prediction of loquat quality at harvest.

Precision Irrigation Under The FruitCREWS Initiative

Moderated by Brunella Morandi (University of Bologna, Italy), the third session will focus on smart-irrigation research driven by the FruitCREWS COST Action. Contributions include Pasquale Losciale (University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Italy) on sensor-based monitoring of tree-water status and Martin Mészáros (Research and Breeding Institute Holovousy, Czech Republic) on irrigation scheduling. Kathy Steppe (Ghent University, Belgium) will demonstrate the use of plant-model-based interpretation of sensor data, while Alon Ben-Gal (Volcani Institute, Israel) will outline decision-support tools developed for precision irrigation management.

Digitalisation And Robotics In Postharvest Management

The final session, moderated by Helene Fotouo Makouate (ATB, Germany), addresses digital and robotic solutions for postharvest handling. Reza Ehsani will present an autonomous robotic platform capable of leaf-level sensing. Amnon Lichter (Volcani Institute, Israel) will introduce ethanol-based strategies for extending storage life, and Angelos Deltsidis (University of Georgia, USA) will discuss NIR spectroscopy for classifying peach maturity. The session concludes with Tuany Hoffmann (ATB, Germany) on SensorTwin, a multi-parameter sensing system designed for optimising cold-storage environments.

Applied Innovations Showcased Through Pitch Presentations

Complementing the main sessions, short-format research pitches will spotlight work on cold-storage management from the Kompetenzzentrum Obstbau Bodensee (Germany), tree-architecture modelling from Plant & Food Research (New Zealand), and automation of drip-irrigation systems developed at Universiti Putra Malaysia. Additional presentations will examine solar-drying and ohmic-heating technologies, long-term chlorophyll-fluorescence monitoring in apples (FRUIT-GUARD®, Fruit Advisory Service of the Altes Land, Germany), 3D imaging for digital quality tracking (ATB, Germany), and research into drone-based air-flow pattern analysis and variable-rate spraying systems (Polytechnic University of Catalonia, Spain; Shanghai Institute of Technology, China).

A Platform For Research–Industry Collaboration

By convening scientific expertise and commercial stakeholders, the FRUTIC Science Symposium at FRUIT LOGISTICA 2026 aims to accelerate the uptake of technologies that can strengthen productivity, sustainability and supply-chain resilience in the global fruit and vegetable sector. Featuring research contributions from Europe, Asia, Oceania and North America, the programme underscores the growing strategic role of digital tools, advanced sensing and robotics in horticulture’s transition to climate-smart systems.