To respond to evolving market needs, Battistini Vivai has embraced a forward-looking strategy centered on innovation and experimentation. "We're excited to introduce our first variety, Blueberica Nordica (A81) for pilot testing - developed in collaboration with Commercial Alfa (Chile), Caliplant Group (Spain), and Florep (USA) - which is currently undergoing protection procedures in Europe. In contrast to other companies that adopt exclusive club models or limit access to new genetic material to only a few licensees, our approach prioritizes openness and collaboration. We are pleased to offer a select group of companies the opportunity to test and evaluate this promising new variety."
© Vivai Piante Battistini Soc. Agr. s.s.
"Through this initiative, we aim to promote innovation in the blueberry industry by offering producers cutting-edge genetic solutions to help them overcome the challenges of a more competitive and demanding market."
The Italian plant nursery Battistini Vivai has also become a licensee of the new blueberry genetics of Alejandro Navarro of Commercial Alfa. Navarro began his blueberry breeding program in 2007 with the goal of providing growers with innovative, high-performance blueberry varieties that can adapt to the growing demands of a competitive global market. Some of the most promising selections derived from his crossed varieties have already been tested in Chile and Mexico. A significant milestone was reached with the application for Community Protection submitted in 2024 for selection A 81."
© Vivai Piante Battistini Soc. Agr. s.s.Apollo (images provided by Battistini Vivai)
In collaboration with breeder Alejandro and the Spanish company Caliplant, represented by Juan Luis Jiménez Martínez and Marc Englert, a further step has been taken in developing a global vision for promoting and testing these new plant materials. With their support, as well as that of Battistini Vivai, we will launch these genetics commercially under the name Blueberica.
© Vivai Piante Battistini Soc. Agr. s.s.
"One of the initial outcomes of this partnership is the debut of the inaugural type in the Blueberica collection: Nordica (A81). This variety represents a significant innovation in blueberry breeding. Its productivity, fruit quality, and adaptability make it valuable for European growers. Nordica has already delivered excellent results in preliminary trials and marks the beginning of a whole range of varieties that Battistini Nurseries will introduce in the coming years. With Battistini Vivai's experience in micropropagating and marketing blueberry varieties since the late 1990s and support from Commercial Alfa (Chile), Caliplant Group (Spain), and Florep (USA) in science, technology, and management, this new range offers Italian and European growers sustainable and profitable solutions for producing high-quality blueberries."
© Vivai Piante Battistini Soc. Agr. s.s.Nordica
"Our collaboration with Alejandro Navarro and Caliplant will solidify Battistini Vivai's position at the forefront of blueberry genetics. Together, we will deliver innovation, quality, and tangible results for the future of blueberry cultivation in Italy and Europe."
© Vivai Piante Battistini Soc. Agr. s.s.
In 2022, Battistini Vivai began a research project on new blueberry genetics with above-ground cultivation in 35-liter pots. An experimental test area was set up at the Casemurate site near Cesena in Emilia-Romagna. In this field, researchers compared selections from international breeding programs (Chile, Poland, and the USA) with traditional blueberry varieties that Battistini propagated in the new Vitroleaf micropropagation laboratory.
© Vivai Piante Battistini Soc. Agr. s.s.Demeter
Thanks to our collaboration with Cieplucha Nursery of Poland, which focuses on evaluating and collecting data on their novel genetics (specifically, selections well-suited for northern regions with stringent cold requirements), our project advanced with the prospect of propagating and marketing the inaugural selections. These selections have since been recognized as official varieties under a non-exclusive license.
The first four blueberry varieties are: Athena, Zeus, Demeter, and Apollo. These varieties are part of the 'Olympos Blueberry' series and are currently under European-level protection. These varieties were selected for their advanced agronomic characteristics, which are particularly suited to the climatic conditions of Northern Europe and Northern Italy.
For more information:
Battistini Nurseries
Via Ravennate, 1500
47522 Cesena (FC) - Italy
+39 0547 380545
[email protected]
www.battistinivivai.com
