Kiwifruit breeding bring economic boost

 

The joint Plant & Food Research - Zespri kiwifruit breeding programme will support a $3.5 billion increase in New Zealand’s GDP by 2030 and the creation of 29,000 jobs, according to a new economic report.

This industry growth is based primarily on the success of Zespri SunGold Kiwifruit, which was released in 2011 from the breeding programme. The University of Waikato report concludes that without Zespri SunGold Kiwifruit the New Zealand kiwifruit industry would be less than half the size of its 2030 projections.

“Our kiwifruit breeding programme is a true partnership between science, industry and government,“ says Dr Bruce Campbell, COO of Plant & Food Research. “The long-term commitment by both Zespri and the New Zealand government in the kiwifruit breeding programme has allowed us to deliver a game-changing new kiwifruit, for the horticultural industry and the nation. This is a great example of a NZ Inc investment focused on creating value by delighting consumers.”

The kiwifruit breeding programme is funded through a partnership of investment by Zespri, the New Zealand government and Plant & Food Research. Research is conducted into breeding new cultivars, as well as protecting them from disease and pests, and optimising growing, harvesting, nutritional content and storage to ensure consumers can rely on a consistent product with every purchase.

“The cultivar ‘Zesy002’, known to growers as Gold3 and marketed as Zespri SunGold Kiwifruit, is the result of many years of research, not only the breeding of the cultivar but understanding how it grows and the best way to manage the orchard to produce a fruit that consumers will enjoy,” says Dr Kieran Elborough, general manager science new cultivar innovation. “Knowing our cultivars are a success on the international market is incredibly rewarding. This report demonstrates the value that our science can contribute, not only for growers but for the wider New Zealand economy.”


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