Focus on mango from the Dominican Republic, the new frontiers of rootstocks, the chain of varietal innovation in horticulture and business opportunities with Namibia. Numerous events will take place on the last day of Macfrut (10 May), once again a crossroads on the global future of fruit and vegetables.
Mango Day
Dominican mango production is continuously growing: potentially The mango represents the symbolic fruit of the agricultural production of the Central American country. , and producers are focusing on this crop that has great added value due to its high quality and properties. For this reason, in the last twenty years many traditional crops have been converted to mango: from livestock to bananas, mango is the first Dominican product to be exported. This was discussed at Macfrut during the 'Mango Day' event promoted by the Dominican Republic.
"Our country is expanding mango production – he explained Solomon Rodriguez , President of the Banileja Association of Mango Producers , the national association that brings together all agricultural companies dedicated to this exotic fruit. – We have now reached 30 thousand hectares (equivalent to about 70 thousand tons of product) in various stages of production. Around 70% is already in production, 30% is already planted. If we look at the country's production potential, we can more than double what we already have, but before we can expand production, we need to improve agricultural techniques and, in any case, the planting of new areas for export will be linked to demand.
«The ongoing renewal process – Rodríguez points out – "It is not only about the technological upgrades that we aim to achieve, but also thanks to our participation in Macfrut, which creates a bridge for the exchange of products and knowledge between the respective countries. We are also working on replanting old plantations and we hope to be able to export almost all of the production within two or three years. We are strongly promoting the local variety of yellow mango called Mingolo, which has conquered the United States. The 90% of the exported volumes is very sweet and tasty and is positioned in a premium market segment."
Mango has become such an important crop that since 2005 there has been an exclusive fair for this product called Expo Mango, which will take place this year from May 31 to June 2.
The new frontiers of rootstocks
A return to the past in the world of rootstocks for the most common Italian fruit crops, such as apples, pears and stone fruits. The direction that research has taken aims to recover the "ancient" vigor of these plants to make them resistant to new phytopathologies. This arose during the International Symposium on Rootstocks held at Macfrut over two days of work in which leading researchers from around the world participated.
In addition to the research results, it has also been shown that Italian and European horticulture in general is moving eastwards, in particular towards Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan or Moldova, where, due to climate change, optimal conditions are being created, at least in this initial phase, for the cultivation of apples and cherries.
» These countries are fortunate to have extremely fertile soils. – explains Stefano Lugli, coordinator of the Fair and convener of IRS together with Stefano La Malfa – because they have never practised horticulture. In Italy, on the other hand, we have been doing it for 300 years, increasingly intensively. They are also areas where it never rains in spring and summer, a useful factor for horticulture, which does not need rain but does need irrigation. The long period of snow in winter is also useful, especially for apple growing. «.
There is a return to past patterns for both cherries and pears. In the former case, the developments have been led by Russian researcher Viktor Eremin, director of the Krymsk Experimental Station for Genetic Improvement (who was not present at the event), who has identified 'Prunus' rootstock varieties that have been shown to produce not only cherries but also resistant stone fruits. Now – Lugli points out – Efforts are being made to eclipse them and make them resistant to climate change and, therefore, for example, to lack of water or excessive cold. «
A return to the rootstocks of the past with “innovative developments”, also for pears. Researchers at Cornell University in New York State have worked with old pear rootstocks that, in intensive Italian cultivation, had been replaced by cotton rootstocks, achieving significant results in terms of plant vigour.
» In intensive pear production – Lugli concludes – Cotton allowed the distances between plants to be reduced due to the reduced root system and the number of plants per hectare to be increased to 5,000-10,000, making it possible to start production in two years, but with one plant. This was not possible with the common pear rootstock due to its large root system and because it slowed down the entry into production of the plant three times more, although it remained active for thirty years. Some rootstocks have been on the Italian market for a couple of years now.
The chain of varietal innovation in horticulture
Following the abrupt legislative slowdown experienced by the EU regulation on PVV, which contains, among other things, an amendment related to variety protection that, if approved, would prohibit any form of varietal patent, the Union is working on a proposal for a Regulation that will modernise the directives on the marketing of any type of reproductive material (seeds, fruit trees, etc.) to align them with the dictates of the Green Deal.
Meanwhile, in Europe, genetic improvement programs continue, as was highlighted during the event. The Varietal Innovation Chain in Horticulture held on the last day of Macfrut.
The Laimburg Experimental Centre in Bolzano has launched a genetic improvement plan for apples which has reached an unprecedented level of research intensity worldwide. » From 1995 to today – he says Walter Guerra, researcher at the Bolzano centre – Europe has granted 293 privileges to apples (of which 34 are Italian, representing 12%); There are 110 applications in progress (21 of which are Italian, 19%), and the privilege rights on 129 varieties have expired (9 of which are Italian, the 7%).»
Across Europe, there are more than 230 areas with exclusive apple varieties (club varieties). Germany is in first place with 65 exclusive varieties spread across different production areas, of which around 20 are 'resistant'. Italy is next with 25 exclusive varieties in South Tyrol, 22 in Emilia-Romagna and 15 in Piedmont, of which 5, 7 and 7 are resistant respectively. Switzerland is the region that is most actively promoting research into resistant varieties. Of 18 exclusive cultivars, 15 have this characteristic.
» Brand protection is important – said Jurgen Braun, Kiku's variety director. At Kiku Club, where light protection was activated allowing freedom over the seeds, although we have implemented a very aggressive marketing policy to position ourselves in the market, we have experienced cannibalization of seeds by producers who have become the main competitors in the market. This did not happen with the Crimson Snow variety where we opted for full protection. For this variety we intend to increase production from 40,000 to 50,000 tons because commercial trials are in advanced stages. North America, South America and Africa «.
Among the varietal improvement activities, New Plant, a consortium involving three major companies, Orogel Fresco, Apofruit and Apo Conerpo, has launched a variety of chinensis kiwi called 459 011 (brand name 'Dulcis') which, although green, has the typical flavour of yellow-fleshed kiwis. It has been registered in Europe and efforts are being made to protect it in the southern hemisphere as well. The next phase will be to complete the entry into production of 250 hectares, while consumer trials are being carried out in Italy and Europe.
Namibia, business opportunities
Namibia has submitted Investment opportunities for the high-value fruit and vegetable sector in the African state. Namibia is a country with enormous potential, with its growing economy and abundant natural resources, offering a favourable environment for investments in various sectors.
Tina Andima, Investment and Export Promotion Officer, introduced the NIPDB – Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board programme, which plays a key role in facilitating investments in the country by providing information, assistance and incentives to domestic and foreign investors interested in taking advantage of opportunities in the agricultural sector and other key sectors of the Namibian economy. In supporting the development of these sectors, an institution such as the Namibian Agricultural Board (NAB) has proven to be instrumental.
» The NAB – said Fidelis Mwazi, executive director of the agency – is committed to providing regulations and technical support to promote productivity and sustainability in agriculture in Namibia. Our aim is to create an enabling environment for investments in the sector «. Furthermore, Richwell Lukonga, CEO of the Namibia Industrial Development Agency (NIDA), illustrated NIDA’s industrial development programme in Namibia, whose main objective is to offer incentives and assistance to investors interested in developing projects in the industrial sector, including those related to the processing and marketing of agricultural products. In recent years, some products have seen a significant increase in production and demand, including table grapes, dates, blueberries and potatoes, thanks also to the “Orange River Irrigation” project of Dr. Jeremy Muadinohamba, founder of Muadifam Enterprises.
For more information
Elena Vincenzi and Michela Dongi
Macfrut international press office c/o fruitecom srl
Mobile: +39 340 5588 732; +39 348 4074 079
