Australian-bred proprietary rootstock offers the potential for significant improvements in yield, tree habit and Phytophthora resistance
Hort Innovation and Innovar Global have partnered on a global license that will see the pair – and global partners – test and commercialise the Procado avocado rootstock in key territories worldwide.
Developed in Australia, Procado (SHSR-04) is a proprietary rootstock that offers the potential for significant improvements in yield, tree habit and Phytophthora resistance in avocado-producing regions around the world.
Hort Innovation is a grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation representing Australia’s horticulture industry. Its core role is to advance and promote the interests of the Australian horticulture sector through R&D investment, marketing and trade promotion.
In the case of Procado, it has partnered with the rootstock’s breeders to develop the rootstock across the burgeoning Australian sector and ensure that Australian growers have increasing access to test and grow the promising new material. The Procado rootstock has been licensed to three domestic nurseries in Australia since 2020.
Innovar Global is part of the wider Freshmax Group, one of the leading fresh produce marketers in the Pacific Rim with primary operations in Australia, New Zealand, the US and South America. Innovar specialises in licensing and commercialising leading new varieties across global markets, with a core focus on cherries, avocados, berryfruit, stonefruit, apples and pears.
Interest in Procado is strong, and the rootstock is already in commercial use in Australia’s avocado industry. Trial data and early commercial plantings point to Procado delivering higher yield efficiency when evaluated against Dusa as well as significantly increased Phytophthora resistance in replant sites. Procado has also demonstrated reduced vigour (with Hass) and semi-dwarfing habits when grafted with Sheppard. The international opportunity secures IP protection and establishes the potential for future royalty streams, ensuring ongoing returns to Australian avocado growers.
Innovar said it sees Procado as an opportunity to advance avocado production, which remains relatively unsophisticated when compared to other major horticultural crops.
“We are excited to partner with Hort Innovation and the breeding team to bring Procado rootstock to the wider global industry,” said Simon Gillett, head of Innovar Global. “Avocados remain a major growth category and new, superior rootstocks offer a leap forward in orchard efficiency. The Procado rootstock offers real promise in this sector.”
Anthony Kachenko, GM of production and sustainability at Hort Innovation added: “The Procado rootstock represents the incredible innovation coming out of Australia and the strategic investment by Australian avocado levy payers in action. This international commercialisation milestone with Innovar is a testament to the strength of our R&D pipeline and our commitment to delivering global opportunities for Australian-developed horticultural innovations.”
Over the coming months, Innovar will work with Hort Innovation and partners in various territories to migrate plant material and commence worldwide testing.