DEXiFruits is a free IT tool co-constructed by INRAE, Ctifl, IFPC and the Institut Agro Rennes-Angers to enable those working in the field to assess the sustainability of fruit production systems in a given context.

DEXiFruits calculates the overall performance of the orchards assessed. It can also be used as a dashboard to identify the strengths and weaknesses of these orchards and possible improvements. The tool is easy to use and requires data that is easily accessible to an arboriculturist or adviser. All the criteria are qualitative or correspond to value classes, specific to each fruit species. The user can also compare the performance of the production system being assessed with an average reference system.

Plan Ecophyto : l'exemple DEXiFruit from Philippe Boig on Vimeo.

What is DEXiFruits used for?

•  Assess the sustainability of systems on the 3 pillars: environmental, economic and social
•  Identify strengths and weaknesses
•  Classify and compare systems with each other or with a reference system
•  Discuss, question and improve current orchards

An easy-to-use tool

All you have to do is fill in lists of 57 multiple-choice input criteria with data on the characteristics of the orchard being assessed and its context:

• Cultivation practices and inputs
• Production cost and yield
• Orchard layout
• Farm context (hedges, climate and soil, market, etc.)

Some input criteria are quantitative (e.g. yield) and the classes for these criteria are defined using threshold values, set (or to be set) for each species. The IZI-EVAL tool (LINK) can be used to generate these threshold values.

If DEXiFruit is set up for a species, a reference system (or type system) is created.

Download DEXiFruits

1. Install the DEXi software
2. Download one of the DEXiFruits versions and open it under DEXi
3. Choose the orchard(s) to be evaluated, gather the necessary data
4. Possibility of using IZI-Eval to provide threshold values for quantitative criteria and set generic DEXiFruits parameters
5. Evaluate the prototype under DEXi
6.  Generate the synoptic graph(s) with IZI-EVAL

This tool can be used for all stone and pome fruit crops.

You can download the generic version of the DEXiFruits tool, which does not contain any threshold values. These can then be configured with IZI-EVAL. However, if you are planning to assess an orchard producing knife apples, cider apples or peaches, you can use the parameterised version for the chosen species.

• DEXiFruits V1 generic
• DEXiFruits knife apple
• DEXiFruits cider apple
• DEXiFruits peach

Input data

The documents containing all 57 input data are available below for the knife-apple, cider-apple and peach varieties:

• Knife apple support document
• Cider apple support document
• Peach support document

These documents are used to enter data into IZI-EVAL. They are used to describe all the input criteria:

• a simplified definition
• the list of possible choices
• the value or choice made for the referent system

Authors, funding and credits

Point of attention

• This is not a certification or labelling tool.
• This tool does not replace advice! It should be seen as an aid to individual or collective reflection on the performance of orchard practices in their own context. Solutions need to be considered locally and adapted on a case-by-case basis.
• The designers of DEXiFruits cannot be held responsible for the results of evaluation using the tool.
• Use of this tool is voluntary.

The DEXiFruits tool was built by a group of researchers, engineers and teachers involving INRAE, technical institutes: Ctifl and IFPC and a higher education institution (AGROCAMPUS OUEST Centre d'Angers). The DEXiPM_Pomefruit tool from which DEXiFruits is derived was registered with the APP in January 2013 (IDDN N° FR.001.070018.000.R.P.2013.000.30100, attributed on 30/01/2013), version 1, which is the property of Inrae.

The use of DEXiFruits is done under the CeCILL-C licence, the download being considered as acceptance of the licence. DEXiFruits may not be used commercially without first contacting and obtaining the agreement of the owners of the DEXi4 software. The CeCILL-C licence allows you to use DEXiFruits without limitation under your own responsibility, the designers and owners of DEXiFruits not being held responsible for the results obtained. It is specified that the possible reuses of DEXiFruits in software developments will have to follow the conditions stated in the CeCILL-C licence.