Integrating spatial FruitLook data with Geographical Information system and field data: Benefits to the fruit industry

There is a need to optimise resource use (water, nutrients), increase the production of pome and stone fruits and hence the financial returns to producers and the fruit industry.  Spatial data has the potential to assist in assessing and improving resource use, but spatial data and geographical information systems (GIS) are not widely used by the fruit industry.  Exposure and technology transfer is needed for this new type of data sets to be integrated and adopted fully.

This project investigated how to integrate spatial FruitLook data with GIS and field data for improved pome and stone fruit production in the Western Cape.  Specifically, this project aimed to

• Determine uses and benefits of integrating the spatial FruitLook data with GIS and field data through workshop discussions.
• Prepare a discussion document summarising the uses, benefits and limitations of integrating the spatial FruitLook data with other data sets, for improved pome and stone fruit production.
• Disseminate this learning to the fruit industry.

The methodology employed included:

• Literature reviews:  an extensive literature review was performed on the use, benefits and limitations of remote sensing and GIS in agriculture and specifically horticulture.  Literature was also reviewed and used to provide a description of remote sensing and GIS.
• Workshops and Interviews:  a number of workshops were held and interviews conducted to obtain feedback from producers, researchers, managers, environmentalists on the use of remote sensing and GIS for horticulture, with specific reference to the existing FruitLook data base and Department of Agriculture (Western Cape) crop census database.
• Additional examples on remote sensing and GIS data use were generated to address the outset objectives.

Both the literature reviews and the outcomes from stakeholder workshops indicate that the use of remote sensing and GIS holds benefits to pome and stone fruit production.  However, the use of these spatial technologies are not widely adopted – neither locally nor internationally.  Internationally research is ongoing in evaluating these technologies for applications related to water management and crop water stress detection, production estimation and pest and disease detection.  Locally, research in this field is very limited.  The value of locally available remote sensing derived datasets like FruitLook has been recognised in evaluating in-field and on-farm spatial variation, water management and in assisting producers and consultants in evaluating production problems.  Linking the FruitLook database to the Department of Agriculture (Western Cape) GIS database on crop distribution provides a means of evaluating fruit production, crop actual ET, water management and efficiency of water use, spatially.  These spatial statistical analysis could provide information required for setting benching standards for pome and stone fruit production.

This project showcased a number of examples on the use of remote sensing data and GIS in evaluating aspects related to stone and pome fruit production.  Wider adoption of this technology is needed, but this requires the involvement of horticultural scientists (a) to derive more concrete uses of remote sensing data and GIS and (b) to illustrate true benefits of this spatial technology.