Raspberry among the trees: new hope for berry production hit by climate change

By: Trademagazin Date: 2025. 07. 11. 11:23

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One of the most popular fruits of the summer, raspberries, are now receiving special attention not only in the markets but also in the focus of agricultural research. While shoppers happily choose between fresh, fragrant fruits in July, few people know that domestic raspberry production has suffered a significant decline in recent years. Climate change is the main reason behind the decreasing area and falling yields, but irrigation difficulties and technological backwardness also aggravate the situation. Researchers from the University of Sopron and the Hungarian University of Agricultural and Life Sciences (MATE) are now looking for a solution with a new approach: using agroforestry systems combined with woody vegetation.

The future in the shade

The aim of the research in the Fertőd experimental plantations is to assess how trees can improve the microclimate and how this affects the development of berries, including raspberries. The first results are encouraging: raspberries grown in mixed culture have improved their vitality, their yield has increased, and they have been less damaged by extreme weather effects. There is not only domestic but also international interest in the method – especially within the framework of the ClimaPannonia project, which examines the climate adaptation of agriculture in the Pannonian Basin.

Raspberry in the shadow of the heat

“The ripening time of our main raspberry varieties increasingly coincides with the heat wave of 35-40 °C, which leads to sunburn of the berries, scorching of the leaves, and even crop failure,” said Dr. Jenő Varga, a researcher at MATE. According to the researchers, variety breeding alone is no longer sufficient for such extreme conditions: new, complex technological responses are needed. Agroforestry, where trees provide shade for plants, provides significant microclimate regulation and, when combined with irrigation, can ensure successful raspberry cultivation.

Measurements, experiences, international attention

Andrea Vityi, associate professor at the University of Sopron, said that over the next four years, researchers from the two universities will closely cooperate to investigate the long-term effects of mixed tree-berry systems on crop yield, water management and soil condition. They will also monitor the system’s carbon footprint and biodiversity, as these are key indicators for the development of sustainable agriculture in the future.

The research will also have a regional dimension: through cooperation with the University of Novi Sad, the adaptability of the model to other climatic and production environments will be assessed.