Prompur variety and L50 drone attract top prizes in Berlin, as voted by visitors to Fruit Logistica 2026 in Berlin
A new variety of apple that can be eaten by those who would otherwise suffer an allergic reaction to the fruit, and a high-performance drone which can spray crops over wide areas, have bagged this year’s much-coveted Fruit Logistica Innovation Awards (FLIA) in Berlin.
In the Fresh Produce FLIA category, first prize went to Pompur, an allergy-friendly apple brand developed by the ZüchtungsInitiative Niederelbe (ZIN), based near Hamburg.
The crisp, red apple is the first in the world to be certified by the European Centre for Allergy Research Foundation (Ecarf), and provides an alternative for sufferers of birch-apple syndrome, an allergy that is surprisingly prevalent in central and northern Europe.
“We have created a product that gives many people access to apples that they previously couldn’t enjoy,” said ZIN managing director Maik Stölken. “In Germany alone, there are between 3.5mn and 4mn people with this allergy.”
He added: “Our apple hasn’t come this far just because it’s allergen-free. It also simply tastes good. Today, we are celebrating the result of 20 years of development work.”
The FLIA for the year’s most innovative technology went to Hungarian group ABZ Innovation for its L50 Drone, which the judges said impressed with its precision and performance.
With its high-performance battery and smart control system, the device can remain airborne for significantly longer than comparable aircraft, apparently covering up to 24ha.
And thanks to its large, 50-litre tank, the L50 Drone is particularly well-suited to supporting agricultural businesses with large areas, helping them to apply pesticides and fertilisers efficiently.
“This award is a great recognition of our work and means a lot to us,” commented Gyula Törok, chief commercial officer of ABZ Innovation. “We are the first drone manufacturer in Europe to develop this type of drone. Winning the Fruit Logistica Innovation Award shows us that we are on the right track.”
The Fruit Logistica Innovation Awards, which were presented for the 20th time this week, remain among the most prestigious awards in the industry.
From numerous entries, two independent expert juries nominated a total of ten outstanding innovations – five in fresh produce, five in technology.
But the winners from those shortlists were chosen by visitors to Fruit Logistica 2026, who voted for their favourite innovations.
