Innovative Automation, Groundbreaking Research Headline Field Day
On August 8, 2024, the Cal Poly Strawberry Center held its 10th Anniversary Field Day spotlighting the latest research findings in automation, entomology and plant pathology.
This anniversary event marked a decade of collaboration between the California Strawberry Commission and Cal Poly, showcasing advancements in sustainable strawberry farming that benefit both growers and the environment.
Already the largest research and education event for the California strawberry industry, this year’s Field Day drew a record-breaking crowd of growers, shippers, and processors from across the state, along with ag leaders and policymakers.
"The collaboration between CSC and the Strawberry Center is crucial for advancing sustainable and efficient farming practices to ensure the strawberry industry continues to thrive.”
Innovative Automation Boosts Farming Operations
Automation and mechanization are two key research areas for the Strawberry Center, both of which allow for improvements in labor and growers’ bottom line. One such piece of machinery is the Heated Hole Puncher, designed and built by the California Strawberry Commission and the Cal Poly Strawberry Center.
Before its invention, farm workers would have to burn holes in field materials by hand with one worker being able to do one to two acres a day.
- With the new Heated Hole Puncher, workers lead the machinery that can do one to two acres an hour with more consistency. For more information, click here.
- These investments can result in millions of dollars saved out in the fields for growers.
The goal of the Strawberry Center research is to increase the sustainability of the California strawberry industry through research and education that addresses industry needs. Key benefits to current research include non-chemical pest and disease control and workforce efficiency and safety.
- Automation can improve workplace efficiency and safety in projects like the Optimized Bug Vacuum, Hoop House Arch Remover, Laser and Mechanical Runner Cutters, and Heated Hole Puncher. All of these projects are now available for growers.
New Research Helps Growers Improve Plant Health & Crop Yield
New entomology and pathology research findings to more sustainably combat pests and plant diseases, were presented and demonstrated in test fields by students, researchers, and CSC staff, including:
- Non-chemical solutions involving the use of UV-C light, which has been shown to reduce powdery mildew in strawberries when applied at night.
- Solutions for controlling and mitigating soilborne pathogens including salt and moisture control and the development of elite plant breeding lines.
- Investigations into soilborne pathogens and diseases such Fusarium wilt race 2 and Macrophomina on strawberry plants.
- Cultivar breeding for disease resistance.
About the Strawberry Center
Formed in 2014 as a partnership between the California Strawberry Committee (CSC) and Cal Poly, Cal Poly Strawberry Center aims to increase the sustainability of California’s $3.4 billion strawberry industry through research and education, showcasing advancements in sustainable strawberry farming that meet grower needs.
Considered a model partnership between industry and academia, over the last 10 years, the Strawberry Center has:
- Expanded significantly, evolving from a focus solely on plant pathology to an organization with 13 staff members and three disciplines, including plant pathology, entomology, and automation.
- Evaluated more than 1,500 strawberry genotypes for disease resistance
- Trained 147 students to be future leaders in strawberry production, diagnostics, and research.
- Earned more than 30 awards, including the prestigious IPM Achievement Award (2022), the highest honor given by CDPR.
With the support of the California Strawberry Commission, Strawberry Center students, faculty, and staff have been able to solve some of the challenges facing the industry today while building the workforce for tomorrow.
Supporting Our Growers
The Strawberry Center research and innovation directly supports the California strawberry growers, putting research findings and innovative projects into practice. Meet our growers:
RESOURCES FOR GROWERS
The California Strawberry Commission and Strawberry Center also serve as a year-round resource to growers, providing plant diagnostics testing, equipment testing and upgrades, and one-on-one field-based trainings.
RESEARCH FACT SHEETS
INDUSTRY MEMBERS
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