MAKING THE ASPIRE ROOT CARBOHYDRATE TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE TO ASPARAGUS GROWERS GLOBALLY

Aspire is a decision support system that asparagus growers can use to help improve crop production by measuring and interpreting root carbohydrate (CHO) content. It consists of a simple method for estimating root CHO content, advice on how to interpret the CHO content to guide management decisions, an interactive delivery system on the Internet, a secure client and crop registration system, and a database that retains confidential information about each registered crop. Benefits from using Aspire include: better harvest management to optimize use of stored CHO and maximize long-term yield; better management during fern growth to enhance accumulation of CHO in the roots; yield forecasting; and assurance about crop health. Before Aspire is used in new situations, seasonal patterns of root CHO content need to be measured, and then the information is used to adapt Aspire to cope with different climates and crop management systems. This has been done in New Zealand and North America, and many asparagus growers are now using the system in New Zealand (AspireNZ; www.aspirenz.com) and the USA, Mexico and Canada (AspireUS; www.aspireus.com). A Workshop at the 11^th International Asparagus Symposium provided an opportunity for participants wanting to use the system in other parts of the world to find out more about it, and to discuss possibilities for wider development and deployment.