HortiBonn at the European Horticulture Congress 2024 in Bucharest

The European Horticulture Congress in May 2024 in Bucharest, Romania attracted 700 participants from 67 countries. The congress was held in the Palace of Parliament, the largest administrative building (for civil use) worldwide built for Nicolae Ceauşescu. After 4 European congresses as ‘SHE’ in Vienna, Angers, Chania and Stuttgart (online), this 5th European congress was renamed EHC in line with the IHC (International Horticultural Congress).

In ten symposia, horticultural researchers from Europe and abroad presented their work in this impressive building. The HortiBonn team contributed 4 oral presentations. Lars Zimmermann presented his work on “Analysis of the leaf-area-to-fruit ratio in apple tree training systems using a mobile LiDAR laser scanner” in the symposium on Fruit Production Systems for Sustainable and Resilient Development. In the same symposium, Christine Schmitz gave a talk on “Evaluation of frost risk during apple bloom in Germany” and Dr. Michael Blanke reported on “Recovering plastics in horticulture - on the way to sustainability”. In addition, Dr. Michael Blanke was a convener, editor and young minds reviewer of the symposium on History of Horticulture in Europe. Prof. Dr. Eike Luedeling completed the HortiBonn travelling group (photo).

The EHC congress offered a valued chance of networking, personal exchange and update of present knowledge in horticulture.The technical tour took us to the Research Institute For Fruit Growing (RIFG) in Pitesti (44.5°N), where we visited trials on pome and stone fruits and berries. We also got to enjoy a taste of the first early-ripening cherries of the season. Afterwards we had a guided tour of the Golesti Viticulture and Tree Growing Museum.

We look forward to the next European Horticulture Congress in Murcia, Spain in four years.