Last Tuesday, the Uruguayan Citrus Consortium and Genesis Innovation Group (GIG) signed an agreement that aims at the evaluation, development, and commercial management of the new citrus varieties developed at the national level in the Mediterranean basin. "This marks the beginning of a first stage in the development strategy of Uruguayan genetics in northern hemisphere countries, which are the main export destination of local citriculture, and which will enhance the sector's business."
GIG is an international group of companies specialized in the development and comprehensive management of new protected varieties worldwide. The Uruguayan Citrus Consortium is composed of the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture, and Fisheries, the National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA), and the Union of Uruguayan Fruit and Vegetables Producers and Exporters. Its objective is to coordinate and complement capacities among the State, producers, exporters, nurseries, and scientific and technological organizations to improve the sector's international competitiveness.
"This is an example of how useful and necessary a public-private union is to pursue a key objective for citrus cultivation. Uruguayan research is generating materials that are relevant to world citriculture,” said the Minister of Livestock, Agriculture, and Fisheries, Fernando Mattos.
The varieties contemplated in the agreement were obtained after many years of joint work between INIA, the Faculty of Agronomy, and the private sector, resulting in new genetics adapted to the high standards imposed by national and international consumers.
David Alba, CEO of GIG, valued the signing of the agreement and stressed that "Uruguayan citrus farming has the Citrus Consortium, an organism that brings together research, the government, and producers for the development of the sector, which is unprecedented worldwide."
“This alliance is not reached overnight, it is the result of years of joint work. Signing this agreement is key for citrus producers and entrepreneurs. It's the path we must follow,” stated Washington Guarino, president of Upefruy.
Through this alliance, the parties involved formalized a link of long-term scientific-technological cooperation to create and develop future new citrus varieties.
"The alliance between companies, government, research, and development institutions' consortium working model, once again shows its power for the generation of innovative products that improve the competitiveness of the productive chains, in this case, of our country's citrus chain," concluded Dr. Fernando Rivas, a leading researcher in Citriculture at INIA.
Source: inia.uy