IRTA has been collaborating with the Plant&Food Research Institute (PFR) of New Zealand for over 20 years. Since 2002, it has co-owned the Hot Climate Partnership (HCP), a genetic improvement program to obtain new apple and pear varieties adapted to warm climates such as Catalonia.
In 2019, the two institutions, together with Fruitfutur, - an association of the main apple and pear producers in Catalonia - also owner of the HCP, signed an exclusive license with the company Venturefruit Global Ltd (of the T&G Global group) of New Zealand, as a strategic partner for the commercialization of the new varieties globally.
In 2023, the first apple variety of the program was launched on the market, known as TUTTI®, and it is expected that in the coming years there will be new introductions to the market of both new apple and pear varieties.
The reason for the trip to New Zealand is the visit of these two strategic partners. Visit the different Plant and Food Research centers and meet with the management members in order to monitor the operations of the HCP, but also to promote new scientific collaborations and thus strengthen international alliances. Secondly, visit our HCP marketing partner to outline the strategy for new commercial launches of other varieties of the improvement program.
The dates of the visit are planned from March 1 to 10, 2024 visiting the Plant & Food Research headquarters in Auckland and then moving to Napier, the main apple and pear production area in New Zealand and where the apple and pear improvement program is located.
