In a market as competitive as Mexico, the world's fourth largest global market for hybrid seeds, where each growing cycle covers more than 160000 hectares of peppers and 50000 hectares of tomatoes, the arrival of a new breeder tends to attract close attention. Corbel Seeds has done exactly that, combining strategy and genetics with a backstory firmly grounded in agriculture.
© Corbel Seeds
"Corbel was born from the union of two families, Cortés and Beltrán. One with more than 30 years of experience distributing hybrid seeds in South America, the other with more than 35 years producing vegetables in Sinaloa. Both decided to bring together real agricultural knowledge and a very solid genetic bank, and that is how Corbel Seeds was created," explains José Raymundo Elizalde, General Manager of the company.
"That union has allowed us to land in Mexico with a very clear principle: understanding the crop from the inside, its climates, its cycles and even its pests. Mexico is not an agriculturally homogeneous country. We have desert in the north, highlands in the center and jungle in the south, and each area demands different materials," he says.
Tomato, pepper and a growing portfolio
Corbel Seeds began operations in Mexico focused on tomato and pepper, but it is already evaluating Persian and American cucumber, tomatillo and a very broad range of peppers, both sweet and hot. "The list is long because demand is just as long," Elizalde notes. "The US market dictates many of the needs of Mexican growers, and Roma, round, grape, cherry and even specialties such as San Marzano or Marmande tomatoes all have very specific niches that need to be addressed."
© Corbel Seeds
One of the most eye catching elements of the company's strategy is chromatic diversity. Yellow, orange, purple, striped and even chocolate colored peppers and tomatoes sit alongside the classic red. "The American consumer is looking for diversity, attractive presentations and color mixes. Social media and global cuisine are increasingly shaping preferences, and we want to position ourselves in that highly sought after segment," Elizalde says.
© Corbel Seeds
"In peppers, the sheer size of the market surprises even very experienced professionals. Only 5% of the 160000 hectares are sweet peppers. The rest are hot peppers, and of those, 60% are sold dry. That is why peppers are among our most important products, both because of the cultivated area and the strong demand for specialties."
Another segment where Corbel Seeds is moving aggressively is rootstocks for tomato and watermelon. Sinaloa has been growing tomatoes for more than 120 years, and monocropping has left its mark. "There are regions where nematodes and other soil borne diseases cause serious problems, and resistant rootstocks are what allow growers to maintain productivity and remain competitive," Elizalde explains.
Firmtech and the focus on firmness
Among Corbel's proprietary developments is Firmtech, a technology aimed at improving tomato firmness. "We are looking for materials that maintain solid consistency even at advanced stages of ripeness. Greater firmness means longer shelf life, and that is decisive for the market," he says.
What stands out is not only the technology, but the deliberate focus on varieties that serve niches many multinationals tend to overlook. Yellow or orange round tomatoes, orange saladette types, and special formats for gourmet or premium markets are all part of the pipeline. "There are growers who need very specific products, and not every seed company develops materials like these."
© Corbel Seeds
A global network for genetics testing and selection
Corbel Seeds works through partnerships in South Korea, Japan, Israel and South America, in addition to its own genetic bank. Its model is based on testing varieties in different countries before deciding whether a material can truly compete in Mexico. "We test them in Brazil, Chile, Florida and California. Then we bring them to Sinaloa and Jalisco, where we have two experimental fields, one for fall winter and another for spring summer." ".
© Corbel Seeds
Corbel Seeds has been established in Mexico for just one year. From 2023 to 2024 was its evaluation phase. From 2024 to 2026 will be the semi commercial trial stage. The commercial launch is expected at the end of 2026. "Our job is to prove that our varieties can outperform what growers are already planting. And the results so far are already showing that in commercial farms in Tabasco, Chiapas, Yucatán, Sinaloa and Jalisco."
© Corbel SeedsFor more information:
Corbel Seeds
https://www.corbel.mx/
