Deal signed to market Italian raspberry Amalia Rossa in the UK and Ireland

The Summer Berry Company (TSBC) announces an agreement with established Italian breeder Berrytech for the production and distribution of Amalia Rossa raspberries in the UK and Ireland. The partnership grants TSBC the exclusive right to market Amalia Rossa (formerly BP190), grown in Portugal within the UK…

Smart greenhouse for Korean-style potato cultivation in Samarkand, Uzbekistan

According to a report from the Ministry of Agriculture's Multimedia Center, a meeting was held between a delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture and representatives of the…

New tissue culture laboratory in Kainantu to boost potato production

Potato production in Papua New Guinea is about to take a leap forward with the completion of a new tissue culture laboratory for the Fresh Produce Development Agency (FPDA)…

KWS and StartLife partner up to spur plant breeding with startups

KWS has joined forces with StartLife to collaborate with startups. Together, KWS and StartLife will help mission-driven entrepreneurs grow their businesses and co-develop sustainable agrifood systems. The agriculture business is facing many challenges, ranging from climate change an increase in food…

Seed-X to unveil new seed sorting solution at the Seed Meets Technology event

Seed-X and PETKUS have unveiled the OS f3.0 AI, a solution Powered by Seed-X AI technology for the seed sorting space. The companies will introduce their new solution at the Seed Meets Technology (SMT), taking place in The Netherlands from September 27-29, 2023. Mr. Sarel Ashkenazy, CEO of Seed-X, remarked,…

Jiffy provides customized solutions for the peat-free question

The demand for peat-free grown crops continues to grow. In the coming years, that demand is expected to continue growing ahead of legislation in the United Kingdom. The step towards becoming peat-free is a big one, recognized by Jiffy, who have added peat-free substrates to their product portfolio. For…

UK: New approach to regulating precision bred products could unlock investment in crop genetic research and innovation

Crop science organization NIAB has welcomed the progress made at today’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) Board meeting, which paves the way for a more streamlined and evidence-based approach to regulating food and feed products developed using new precision breeding techniques such as gene editing. As a…

Smooth round tomatoes resistant to cracking and blotchiness

After a period where small fruits were the favorite, consumption of bunch (smooth round) tomatoes is on the up once again. They are appreciated by producers and consumers who perceive it as part of the Italian culinary tradition both in Italy and abroad. Dalibor F1Thanks to its genetics, Harmoniz intends…

University of Illinois

The turbo-charged plants that could boost farm output

According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, almost three in ten people around the world went short of food in 2022, with more than a tenth severely food insecure. Improving plant yields is one way to cut the shortfall, and there have been great advances. But while maize yields, for example,…

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India: Namdhari Seeds unveils greenhouse for plant pathology

Namdhari Seeds recently inaugurated a greenhouse facility dedicated to enhancing its existing Plant Pathology and Seed Health operations. This facility spans 58,000 square feet, designed to adhere to international standards and incorporate the latest technological advancements. Speaking at the…

EW Group to acquire Spanish berry breeder Planasa

EW Group, a German-based strategic family Holding, has signed an agreement for the takeover of Planasa Group from international private equity firm Cinven and the Spanish…

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2023 Canadian harvest of horticultural peat moss as of August 31

The Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association (CSPMA), whose members represent close to 90 percent of North America’s horticultural peat extraction, is reporting its annual level of harvest for the 2023 season. The annual survey of members was conducted on the status of their 2023 Actual Harvest as a…

You say tomato, these UMass Amherst scientists say evolutionary mistery

Biologists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have found evidence for evolutionary “syndromes”—sets of traits that occur together—that help to explain how tomatoes first evolved their distinctive blend of color, sweetness, acidity, and aroma. The research, represented by a pair of papers recently…

Quantity and quality of peat substitutes still a challenge

Peat is the major constituent of horticultural growing media. Due to its high climate footprint, its extraction and use are controversial, and the need to limit its use is widely recognized. The Peat Use Reduction Strategy of the German government aims to phase out its use and replace it with renewable…

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Speed breeding: A powerful tool to breed more crops in less time

Global food security has become a major worry as the human population grows and the climate changes. The current rate of improvement of several major crops is insufficient to fulfill future demand. This slow rate of progress can be due in part to crop plants’ long generation times, which have been…

Oishii teams up with craft brewery to make strawberry beer

If you're a fan of designer berries and fancy brews, there's a buzzy collaboration on the horizon that'll whet your appetite. Oishii, the berry brand famous for its vertically-farmed, $6 strawberries, has teamed up with Grimm, an artisanal brewery in Brooklyn, New York, to make a beer that tastes of the…

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Strawberry cultivar evaluation for fall-planted high tunnel system

Locally produced strawberries (Fragaria ×ananassa) have outstanding market potential. However, strawberry production has been decreasing in the north-central United States, partly because of high production risks associated with the traditional matted-row system. The annual plasticulture system attracts…

"20,000 m3 basin changes from sea of green algae to 100% crystal clear water within a month"

Nurseries use basins to store the water they need to water their products. However, the problem with that water storage is that, especially in sunny weather, algae growth…

Strawberry genetics (still) lagging

Earlier this week, Topsector Tuinbouw & Uitgangsmaterialen organized an Impact2025 event in the Netherlands—the theme: 'High Nature vs High Tech' in soft fruit. Harry Schmeitz opened the afternoon and, with his overview of Dutch strawberry acreage development, set the stage for Vincent Deenen's presentation. Vincent, Limgroup's CEO and a strawberry breeder, is at the for…

Technical students visit HilverdaFlorist, Bunnik Bromelia, and Bosman Van Zaal

Over 70 students from the technical courses of the MBO Westpoort College from Amsterdam visited two horticulture companies and a technical supplier to the horticulture sector on Thursday, August 31, 2023. HilverdaFlorist from de Kwakel, Bunnik Bromelia from Kudelstraat, and Bosman van Zaal from Aalsmeer…

Varietal innovation for midi and mini-plum tomato segments

"Midres and Basoche are probably the two most interesting varieties for counter-season cycles, and they are included in Harmoniz's 2023 tomato assortment," according to Giuseppe Busacca, Product Development Harmoniz Italy." The resistance of these varieties contributes to their success; it is a very…

Three new varieties introduced after successful product trials

"We're excited to unveil the latest developments in vertical farming, proudly brought to you by us. While certain constraints have previously limited the range of crops in indoor vertical farms, our dedicated team has been diligently exploring new horizons," the Sananbio team shares. Watermelon Sananbio,…

Special Starting materials this month

As summer fades into fall, the cultivation season for many growers will soon come to an end. Others have already started a new winter crop, although less production is expected. It is then crucial to choose the right varieties for every cultivation, but mainly, the starting material must also be…