In the wake of El Niño, Peru's blueberry sector has encountered significant setbacks, with high temperatures impeding plant growth and stalling the industry's expansion. There is a stark contrast in impact between regions and varieties. The northern regions, primarily between La Libertad and Lambayeque, bore the brunt of the climatic adversity, drastically affecting plant productivity. Conversely, the South experienced milder effects. Varietal resilience also varied, with those requiring few cold hours suffering more pronounced production declines in the face of elevated temperatures compared to their zero cold hour counterparts.
The industry's growth trend is expected to slow as it undergoes a strategic shift towards varietal adaptation, aiming to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change. This season's challenges have sparked a broader discourse on the future of blueberry cultivation in Peru, promising to enrich industry research, analysis, and debate.
Upcoming international forums, including the Blueberries Consulting Seminars in Lima and Trujillo, as well as the Blueberry Arena by Macfrut 2024 in Rimini, Italy, are set to further explore these pressing issues, emphasizing the critical role of global genetics in navigating the climatic challenges confronting the blueberry and broader berry sector.
Source: blueberriesconsulting.com