Spanish post-harvest solutions specialist Citrosol inaugurated its new research and development facility at its headquarters in Potríes, Valencia on Monday, in a special event attended by Ximo Puig, president of the regional government.
The €4m facility includes 1,100m2 of new laboratories and is equipped with a pilot plant for “real world” trials including a drencher and full production line for post-harvest treatment, storage chambers and laboratories equipped with the latest technology.
“It means we will be able to carry out widespread analysis straight from our own laboratories which will reduce variability and improve homogeneity,” CEO Benito Orihuel told Fruitnet. “This is fundamental in enabling us to provide increasingly precise automated treatment systems.”
The company has undergone a period of impressive growth: turnover rose by 30 per cent in 2014 and by a further 8 per cent in 2015, sealing Citrosol’s position as a leading player in the post-harvest protection market.
According to Orihuel, a significant proportion of the company’s turnover (around 10 per cent) is reinvested in research and development.
