KCC and Rural Development Administration develop specialized fruit tree paint

KCC and the Rural Development Administration (RDA) have developed a specialized water-based paint, ‘Sup-euro Tree-Guard’, designed to protect fruit trees from winter damage. Field tests conducted at five apple orchards in Miryang and Geochang revealed that the product significantly reduces film cracking compared to standard white water-based paints.

Specifically, the cracking rate was approximately 35% lower on tree trunks and 34% lower on grafting areas. The paint features a solar reflectance of 92.1% and a near-infrared reflectance of 91.8%. In tests at 0°C, trees without paint saw trunk temperatures rise by up to 13.1°C, whereas those treated with the specialized paint only rose by 2.6°C to 3.5°C.

To accommodate tree growth and temperature fluctuations, the product boasts an elongation rate of 120%, far exceeding the less than 5% seen in general paints. The RDA plans to distribute the technology to 10 locations covering 10 hectares across Gangwon, Chungbuk, Chungnam, and Gyeongbuk provinces this year, with an additional 10 hectares planned for next year.