South Africa’s Agricultural Research Council is harvesting the first fruits of its partnership with cultivar commercialisation company Culdevco, with the first payment under a marketing agreement between the two companies having now been handed over to the ARC.
Dr Johan van Zyl, research institute manager at the ARC’s Infruitec-Nietvoorbij Institute, says the proceeds of more than R1.33m will be re-invested in cultivar-related research.
Under the terms of the ARC/Culdevco partnership, which was established in 2006, Culdevco has the exclusive rights to market all new ARC cultivars. Since its inception, the programme has released 20 cultivars and six trademarks have been registered.
“Because of the belief in a truly South African tradition of ‘good taste in fruit’, an advanced taste analysis appliance was also donated by Culdevco to the ARC to make sure that the best tasting fruit will remain the priority,” adds Dr Van Zyl. “Exotic fruit will not be the only aim but also different and better tastes, better resistance against pests and diseases, as well as better nutritional value and composition.”
Dr Van Zyl says a further group of cultivars will be released in May this year and that it will include a number of unique products.
