FOREWORD

Modelling has helped to understand processes underlying fruit production and to elucidate the consequences of management choices for fruit crop productivity. The systems approach could function as a bridge between fundamentally oriented and applied science. This concept functioned as a guiding principle throughout the meeting. Many of the presented models were research models dealing with fruit growth or crop protection, and aimed at understanding processes rather than predicting them. Some were presented as a decision support system. A special workshop was organised to discuss the possibilities and restrictions of models as a tool to increase insight in eco-physiological processes and to provide decision support for growers. This workshop was organised by the IOBC. Inventories were circulated among contributors to the workshop in such a way that effectiveness of modelling could be discussed. This inventory, the according papers and a report of the general discussion are included in this volume. Economic aspects were underexposed during the meeting. In the future, we will need more interaction and linkage between quantitative approaches in crop production, protection and economics. Systems approaches with wider goals are envisaged. New information technologies, especially the Internet, will enable actual application of models. Members of the working group believe in the contact between scientists of different disciplines. It will be a challenge to reflect this in the coupling of models for fruit growth and quality, crop protection, and economics. An intensive use of the working group's web site (http://ishs.ethz.ch) is an opportunity to continue the discussions and may stimulate cooperative ventures. Looking forward to the next meeting in California, in 2001!

Patricia S. Wagenmakers, Wopke van der Werf and Philippe Blaise


PREFACE

This volume of Acta Horticulturae is the proceedings of the ISHS/IOBC Fifth International Symposium on Computer Modelling in Fruit Research and Orchard Management.

Authors of offered oral papers and posters had the opportunity to submit their manuscripts for publication in this volume of the series Acta Horticulturae.

Submitted manuscripts were reviewed by at least two members of the Editorial Board and amended according to the referee suggestions prior to acceptance. The Editorial Board could not accept all manuscripts submitted for publication.

The ISHS acknowledges the cooperation received from the Editor and Editorial Board on reviewing the manuscripts which was a significant contribution to the overall quality of the publication.

The ISHS Board of Directors

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

M.J. Groot and W.A.H. Rossing made valuable contributions to the organisation of the conference, and the editorial skills and efforts of T.A. Atkins, E. Costes, Th.M. DeJong, and R. Habib were essential to get this volume published. We are very grateful for their thorough assistance. The organisational skills of Mrs H.R.M. Kentie and her colleagues of the International Agricultural Centre have been of great value before and during the conference. Mr C. Kortleve gave an enthusiastic tour to research stations and fruit farms, and the rest of the Netherlands. This tour contributed to the understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the Dutch fruit sector. The sponsorship of the Dutch Fruit Growers Association (NFO) and Horti Bureau Wageningen (Bodata) has contributed considerably to make this meeting successful, and is therefore gratefully acknowledged. The Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen (Royal Dutch Academy of Sciences) aided by a subsidy grant.