From 29 June to 1 July 2026, the FruitCREWS Training School “Fertigation – Application of Nutrients Together with Irrigation” brings together researchers, industry experts and early-career scientists at Nouryon‘s RD&I Centre in Deventer, the Netherlands. Over three days, participants will explore the latest advances in crop nutrition, fertigation, soil health, remote sensing and strategies for improving fruit production under water-limited conditions.
You can view the full agenda here.
Foundations of Crop Nutrition (29 June)
The programme opens with welcome addresses from Prof. Brunella Morandi, FruitCREWS Action Chair, and Alberto Allegro from Nouryon. Participants are introduced to the fundamentals of crop nutrition before visiting Nouryon’s analytical laboratories to explore advanced research facilities.
The afternoon focuses on soil fertility management, remote sensing technologies for diagnosing nutrient deficiencies, and crop nitrogen status monitoring, highlighting how digital tools can support more precise nutrient management in fruit production. The day concludes with presentations from selected Training School participants, encouraging knowledge exchange among researchers.
▶ Join online:
https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/343964517989926?p=PsvGXRCOPOjw8MnADF
Day 2 – Soil Health and Fertigation Management (30 June)
The second day explores the relationship between soil health and plant resilience, followed by dedicated sessions on fertigation management led by experts from SQM Europe.
Afternoon lectures examine nutrient uptake processes, including calcium allocation in fleshy fruits, phosphorus acquisition by roots, and the role of polyphosphates in soil chemistry. The programme also features additional participant presentations and an interactive Crop Nutrition Quiz encouraging collaboration and discussion among attendees.
▶ Join online:
https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/313743903777506?p=8IUyBDoFHiXb9LISq9
Day 3 – Crop Nutrition Under Water Stress (1 July)
The final day addresses one of the most pressing challenges for modern agriculture: maintaining productivity under limited water availability. Sessions cover foliar fertilization under reduced irrigation, the effects of drought stress on fruit yield and quality, and the links between crop nutrition, drought and salinity tolerance.
▶ Join online:
https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/392189654856343?p=e27VAQVnhEjTHtHcM4