Chile is apparently aiming to develop its own fruit breeding programmes suited to the local climate, which could ultimately lead to the patenting of products to sell on the international market.
The move is to be coordinated under Australis Breeding Programme, developed by the Andes New Varieties Association (ANA) Chile and the University of Chile, with support from biofruit innovation consortium CORFO, according to a report by Fresh Fruit Portal.
At a meeting of fruit industry leaders and scientists held on Wednesday 15 March in the Chilean capital Santiago, Chilean Agricultural Minister José Antonio Galilea explained that around 98 per cent of the fruit varieties Chile sells come from overseas breeding programmes.
“I believe that if Chile has taken the challenge to convert itself into an agricultural and forestry power, these coming technological steps are inevitable – necessarily, you need to reach the big leagues with your own technology and in this case specific genetics, and again I think this effort is aimed in that direction,” suggested Minister Galilea.
For around 10 years the focus has been on developing stonefruit, with varieties now ready for local markets and later on possibly exports too, the report said.
The Chilean Congress is currently discussing a bill that would seek to protect the rights of developers of new plant products, which Minister Galilea believes would allow for more foreign investment while also stimulating local research efforts.
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