A natural apple production without any herbicides

Our producers do without weed killers

A soil is fertile when it is particularly rich in small animals and microorganisms. Weed killers, however, inhibit the development of microorganisms in the soil. Here in Val Venosta the soil conditions are fundamental for the production of quality apples. Furthermore, we would like to have a healthy and varied ecosystem. This is why we promote the production of apples without the use of herbicides.

What are herbicides?

Dense weeds steal water, nutrients and light from the plants. Herbicides are used to avoid the proliferation of weeds in the orchards. These weed killers intervene in different ways in the metabolism of the plants and prevent their growth. You can distinguish between selective herbicides that only control selected types of weeds and total herbicides that control nearly all plants. One of the most widely used herbicides is glyphosate.

We respect the ecological standards of the EU

The future common agricultural policy (CAP) of the EU aims at strengthening nature protection, climate protection and environmental protection in agriculture. The eco-schemes are thought to help the producers to implement agricultural practices that protect the climate, biodiversity and the environment. Among them are mechanical weed control and the renunciation of herbicides.

Download the list of agricultural practices supported by eco-schemes

A voluntary renunciation of herbicides

We have always tried hard to cultivate in an environmentally friendly way and to produce high-quality products. This is why we started the “Voluntary renunciation of herbicides“ initiative in 2018: Producers both in integrated and organic production who do without herbicides receive an environmental bonus. To allow the apples to grow well without any weeds, many producers have opted for mechanical weed control, which is more environmentally friendly, but also more time-consuming and expensive than the use of herbicides.

Herbicides? We can also do without.

A healthy soil for healthy fruits. Our producers fight the weeds in a completely natural way.

More than 30%

of Val Venosta’s total production area is free of herbicides.

1,771 ha

of orchards cultivated without any herbicides.

477 producers

cultivating their orchards without any herbicides.

One of three cultivation areas is herbicide-free

To be honest: We were positively surprised by the response to this initiative, as we already had 1,600 hectares of herbicide-free cultivation areas in the first year after the project start: 800 hectares of organic production and 800 hectares of integrated production. This means that more than 30% of all production areas in Val Venosta are free of herbicides. And this number increases from year to year. We have reached 1,771 hectares so far.

An own apple line

We have offered an own product line for our apples from herbicide-free integrated production on the Italian market since autumn 2019. These apples are, of course, packed in an environmentally friendly cardboard foodtainer to offer 100% of quality, sustainability and service. A herbicide-free production allows us to promote biodiversity and to protect the soil and the water. Our consumers appreciate it: They like our new product line “from 100% herbicide-free cultivation“ and thus encourage our producers’ efforts.

“Schneewinkel“ pilot project

No one is born a biodiversity master. This is why we as VIP and Val Venosta’s producers have to test, rethink and break new ground again and again. In Silandro, we do it with scientific support in the form of the “Schneewinkel“ pilot project to promote biodiversity in fruit production areas with proven measures in future.