Covering system for orchards that reduce the use of pesticides, while producing solar energy
Year: 2014
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: In fruit and berry production the biggest problem farmers face year after year is the attack of\nfungus diseases. Up to 95% of an apple production can be infected in a year by the scab\ndisease. Conventional farmers use great amounts of pesticides to reduce this number, while\norganic farmers have no defense. A new research conducted by Marianne G. Bertelsen,\nsenior researcher in the Department of Food Science at Aarhus University, shows that\nsheltering the apple trees from the rain can reduce the infection rate to near 0%. By\nsheltering the trees, the leaves are able to dry faster, preventing the scab from spreading. At\nthe same time the implementation of large fields of solar panels for electricity production\nfaces some ethical issues. Occupying land that could have been used for food production\ncan result in rising food and land prices and can, in extreme situations, lead to famine in\npoor parts of the world. The idea of this product was to combine these two issues. By\ncovering orchards with shelters containing solar panels, the farmers could reduce their use\nof pesticides, while producing solar energy.
DOI: 10.4122/dtu:2776
Authors: Michailidou, I., Pedersen, M.B., Boesen, S.H., Spanos, T.
Institution: Technical University of Denmark
Language: English
Field: Energy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2784837784