UK-China Agritech Challenge - REmote sensing and Decision support for Apple tree Precision management, Production and globaL tracEability (RED-APPLE)

RED APPLE is looking to develop and implement technological innovation in the China and UK apple production systems to increase yield and quality as well as reduce supply chain losses. The project is testing two technologies: 1) spectral cameras that can identify plant stresses due to, for example, water or nutrient imbalances or pest and disease; 2) traceability systems that can transfer appropriate information to stakeholders along the supply chain to maintain higher quality levels and reduce losses. The findings from the first technology are expected to increase yields and quality in a sustainable manner, reducing inefficient inputs of fertiliser and pesticides. The second will ensure not only the reduced losses but also that quality attributes can be linked to particular producers as well as production techniques.

Enhanced cooperation and knowledge exchange: The consortia in the UK and China will capitalising on expertise within the engineering, natural, socio-economic sciences, facilitating a transdisciplinary approach across organisations and countries, integrated with insights from industry regarding development and commercialisation. The research builds on existing research partnerships, at the same time integrating new collaborators and stakeholders. This ensures that the translation of evidence into concrete applications aligns with emerging agrifood and environmental policies in China. Pathways to impact will operationalise at different scales. At the local scale, (i.e. NE China) the research will focus on apple production, and demonstrate the efficacy of precision agriculture and block chain traceability in collaboration with local Chinese stakeholders and end-users. The measurement of economic benefits to producers and food chain actors, agronomic indicators of increased yields and reduced quality variability, and assessment of Chinese consumer demand for improved quality and traceability will provide information to potential technology end-users about the benefits of the technological innovations. Identification of potential barriers to, and facilitators of, adoption of proposed technological innovations at the farm level will enable the development of bespoke training and educational activities maximising farmer adoption. As well as providing improved and more secure local employment, some of the problems facing rural populations in China (e.g., rural depopulation and lack of skills development within the rural Chinese workforce) will be mitigated. Upscaling to demonstrate implementation for different crops and supply chains will have a positive impact on Chinese food security, and will enable farmers to meet policy requirements for reduced environmental impacts (e.g. reduced fertiliser usage). Stakeholder analysis (including fine-tuning research activities to policy maker needs) will be carried out at an early stage in the project to a) map out the key Chinese actors at local and national levels and b) ensure the project is effectively linked to other related research, and communicated to the full range of relevant stakeholders. This will increase the relevance of the outputs to industry, maximising impacts through policy stakeholder "buy-in" to the project. The integration of knowledge exchange activities with the proposed commercialisation trajectory will ensure that the transdisciplinary collaborations generated by RED APPLE are sustainable and continue beyond the lifetime of the project. At the international level, the consortia will ensure effective dissemination through their existing networks, coupled with an open-access dissemination strategy. This will generate information relevant to the needs of other countries, including LMICs, maximising opportunities for transferability to countries outside China. RED APPLE will use integrated scientific, social and economic analysis to determine the best policy and knowledge transfer mechanisms to ensure an optimal balance of reduced crop variability, adoption of technological innovation by key end-users, and increased consumer demand. The natural science and engineering element will provide essential information on what is possible in terms of reduced nutrient and effective pest diagnosis, improved agronomic practices and food chain traceability. The socio-economic science will involve capturing societal preferences, and understanding farmer/adviser decision-making (and how to influence it). Determining what support needs to be provided to enable change through the apple, and related, supply chains. The transdisciplinary approach adopted will ensure that the benefits of technical innovation is integrated with production goals, reduced supply chain variability, and consumer demand.