A world-class breeding programme, designed specifically to tackle weather challenges faced by apple and pear growers, has entered the commercialisation phase, with the announcement of a new partnership.
T&G Global (formerly Turners & Growers) has joined Plant & Food Research, the Institute of Agriculture and Food Research Technology (IRTA) and Fruit Futur to develop new varieties from the Hot Climate Programme (HCP) into the market. It aims to address challenges such as sunburn, colour and firmness associated with a warming global climate.
"This unique collaboration provides us with a unique opportunity to add to our current stable of apples with excellent quality, great tasting, disease resistant group," T&G Global Director of Category - Apples, Sarah McCormack said. "As you know the weather is changing and the climate with it, as we look back over the past couple of years; the good, the bad, the wet and the dry - it is becoming difficult to predict the upcoming weather of a crop season. These exciting new varieties mean that we can grow quality apples no matter what the weather throws at us. Even in areas we previously may not have considered suitable for growing apples and pears."
T&G Global has had success in bringing world-leading varieties to international markets including award-winning JAZZ™ and Envy™ apples across Europe, US and Asia.
Ms McCormack adds that the HCP, which was launched in 2002, has consistently been producing apples and pears that maintain their crisp texture, juiciness and colour in high temperatures. Six new varieties have been identified in the HCP with potential for commercialisation, which have now entered the testing phase.
"This is a significant point of difference from commercially bred varieties, which reduce their quality in hot dry climates," she said. "For T&G this means the opportunity to expand our growing regions, outside of our existing territories, while also providing options for expansion for our partners. Ultimately our involvement in this program will aid the expansion of T&G's global footprint and support the year-round supply of high-quality premium apples."
It was recognised that other apple and pear growing regions would begin to experience these issues as the global climate continued to change, and that varieties developed for these niche environments would be in increasing demand worldwide.
"Specific issues with traditional varieties, we have new varieties to avoid those pitfalls," T&G Global Head of Quality & Innovation Morgan Rogers said. "The benefit T&G sees with its global members in a business like this is to deliver 365 days a year, irrespective of where something is grown in the world. It's still the same great eating experience. A program like this evens out the challenges of a global demand base."
Plant & Food Research says the launch of the partnership means that the apple and pear industry worldwide has new options for addressing climate change.
"We're positioning the industry to be resilient, while continuing to develop and deliver varieties that consumers want," Dr Gavin Ross said. "Research and Development is a long-term initiative and endeavour. There is no shortage of challenges along the way. Many projects are not successful, while others reach the stage where quality outputs are delivered and can be taken up by industry. This programme is one of those."
While T&G Global is a major partner in the launch of this phase of the programme, Mr Rogers admits that the company may be looking for wider opportunities, and potential involve other growers and businesses.
"This is a heritage series for us, because of the roots and the growth, a lot of the parents are from our traditional breeding partners Plant & Food Research, which supplied our other great varieties, JAZZ™ and Envy™," he said. "But because there is a large volume of these, and some great opportunities, we are looking to challenge our normal business model and bring the varieties in any shape and form to innovation and commercialisation ways to market. We are very receptive to what the market has to offer."
Researchers involved in the programme are confident that the testing in the Spain's "challenging" climate means that the new varieties should mean that they should thrive in other more moderate environments. While at the same time, it is seen as a boost for the nation's apple and pear industry.
"Spain is a great opportunity to develop a market," Dr Ross said. "Currently they are being challenged by the imports from better growing regions that really affects their own production. We see the opportunity to support the Spaniards to grow their own apples and get back in the market."
Spain’s Institute of Agriculture and Food Research Technology (IRTA) has been involved in the research in Europe and CEO Josep Usall Rodié says this partnership is only just the beginning of an exciting journey.
"We hope we will be able to set ambitious targets as well as deliver a prosperous future," he said. "As well as overcome all of the complex challenges of the modern fruit world."
The Catalan Government's Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food, Mrs. Teresa Jordà, added: "The government alone cannot achieve such results, so finding good varieties like this is crucial for us. Harbouring partnerships like this one will also bring us benefits for the sake of the growers. This is also an example of international co-operation. We went to look for the best research partner in the world (Plant & Food Research), and we also found the best commercial grower in the world for commercialising apples (T&G Global). The innovation and coming together of the companies will help make a more competitive sector in Catalunya."