Apple and Pear Australia Limited (APAL), the industry body representing commercial apple and pear growers in Australia, has moved to better regulate the development of its Pink Lady apple brand by forming an intellectual property (IP) division called Coregeo.
The division will continue to manage the Pink Lady brand, and provide consultancy services to assist horticulturists across the globe, helping them to maximise value from their plant breeding investments.
'The experience and expertise that has developed through the international commercialisation of the Pink Lady brand is rare – the global development of the brand is often quoted as being the most successful example of apple variety commercialisation and branding in the world,' said APAL chairman Darral Ashton. 'Because of this, APAL has expanded its operation by creating an intellectual property division called Coregeo.'
Jon Durham, general manager at Coregeo, said the IP was a necessity following numerous requests from government agencies, funding bodies and overseas breeders to assist in the commercialisation of plant varieties.
'Corgeo represents a great opportunity for our industry to capitalise on the expertise we have developed through Pink Lady IP management,' Mr Durham said. 'APAL is pleased to be in a position to offer commercialisation expertise to the global horticultural industry.'
Meanwhile, APAL was handed the Agribusiness Value Adding Award at the NAB Agribusiness Awards for Excellence for its international development of the Pink Lady Brand.
'We are very pleased to have the international Pink Lady business recognised by these prestigious awards,' Mr Ashton said at the event. 'We still find it an exciting business even though we have been close to it for more than 15 years.'
