This project is funded by the innovation program of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), funding agency is the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE). Control and optimization of harvest and storage for apple with data-based prognosis models for improvement of fruit-quality and reduction of storage-losses In Germany, fruit quality losses and rots occurring from harvest to consumption are estimated to be up to 18%. In addition to the direct loss of food for human consumption there are also considerable losses of natural resources and human labour. Other important factors are the environmental costs, the high energy consumption and CO2 emissions associated with fruit storage. The proposed project provides promising starting points for a sustainable, resource and energy efficient apple production chain adapted to the fruit growing region and season. The objectives of the project are: - Development of an apple production chain management system from the field to the consumer - Energy savings to reduce the quantity and quality losses by means of a customized product and optimized harvesting and fruit storage - Improved fruit quality production and quality maintenance for the benefit of consumers - Strengthening the competitiveness of the German fruit growing and marketing organizations Thanks to modern sensor technology as well as meteorological and site-specific measurements large amounts of data are available from apple orchards whose economic potential is not fully exploited. The project will systematically collect and intelligently link large amounts of data from the orchard, fruit harvesting and storage trials using sensors and develop models and predictions for harvest dates and keepability of apples. Project data will be available in a databank. Based on the results of storage trial outcomes the model predictions will be validated and tested in practice.