For Macfrut 2023 it was an honour to host during the WS cherry tree Prof. Marlene Ayala of the Catholic University of Chile, the person in charge of the main genetic improvement project on the cherry tree, started in 2010 and carried out in the largest cherry exporting country in the world, as well as the third largest cherry producer in the world and, so far at least, among the first importers of technological and varietal innovations.
Thanks to PMGC, the breeding programme supported by ASOEX - Consorcio Tecnologico de la Fruta and CORFO, a group of Chilean fruit producers and exporters, by 2030 Chile will be able to grow its own varieties and, probably, start exporting not only cherries but also new plant patents!
Below is the video of the report presented at Macfrut 2023.
“In Chilean conditions, these periods of excessive heat coincide with the post-harvest phase when two fundamental processes for the next season's fruit production occur: reserve accumulation and flower differentiation,” warns Luis Espíndola.
A US District Court has reinstated the Staccato Cherry patent, reigniting the legal conflict between Canada and the USA. This development raises crucial issues about plant variety protection, breeder rights, and the future of agricultural intellectual property.
Cherry breeding programs in Romania are developing early and late varieties with higher yields and improved resistance. These innovations extend harvest windows, enhance fruit quality, and support adaptation to climate change and evolving market demands.
In Quillón, the Agroclima Corazón de Paloma project brings a mobile app, weather stations and agroclimatic models to help around 60 small cherry growers manage orchards, protect a heritage variety and respond more effectively to climate change impacts.