Page 13 - AWA Vol.41-No.3
P. 13

HORTICULTURE

                Pioneer in the development of new Anthurium varieties

            nthura® is a globally leading company in the breeding and
         Aproduction of anthuriums and orchids. With over 85 years
        of experience, the company has had a significant impact on the
        ornamental horticulture industry. Through continuous innovation
        and scientific research, Anthura succeeds in developing new,
        high-quality plant varieties that meet the evolving needs of grow-
        ers and consumers. A perfect example of this is the Anthurium
        Banderola®, a revolutionary addition to the anthurium assortment.
                                                               This meticulous process ensures that Anthura develops not only
         The breeding process: from idea to perfect plant     visually appealing plants but also plants that can be grown sus-
         At Anthura, the development of a new plant variety begins with   tainably and efficiently.
        a careful selection of parent plants. The goal is to create strong,   Banderola: an innovative Anthurium
        healthy, and decorative plants that thrive in various conditions.
        This process takes approximately ten years and consists of mul-  One of Anthura’s most innovative creations is the Banderola. This
        tiple phases:                                         unique variety is the result of years of breeding and is known for its
         The breeding process: from idea to perfect plant     distinctive flower shape. The flowers resemble graceful ribbons,
                                                              creating a playful and elegant effect. Both in the greenhouse and at
         At Anthura, the development of a new plant variety begins with   the consumer’s home, the plant remains beautiful for an extended
        a careful selection of parent plants. The goal is to create strong,   period. Additionally, the plant produces an abundant number of
        healthy, and decorative plants that thrive in various conditions.   flowers that rise impressively above the foliage.
        This process takes approximately ten years and consists of mul-
                                                               The introduction of the Banderola demonstrates how Anthura not
        tiple phases:                                         only responds to trends in interior greenery but also meets the
         1. Making crosses – Combining genetically strong plants with   demand for sustainable and innovative plants. This eco-conscious
        specific traits, such as color, flower shape, and longevity.  approach ensures that growers can use fewer resources while still
         2. Seedling testing –  Young plants are evaluated for growth   delivering a top-quality plant.
        strength, disease resistance, and aesthetic characteristics.  The future of breeding at Anthura
         3. Selection and improvement – Only the best varieties are fur-  The development of varieties like the Banderola proves that
        ther developed and refined.                           Anthura’s breeding techniques are continuously evolving. In the
         4. Practical testing with growers – The most promising varieties   future, we can expect even more innovative colors, shapes, and
        are tested in commercial greenhouses to assess their real-world   cultivation techniques. Through a combination of science, passion,
        performance.                                          and sustainability, Anthura remains a trendsetter in the world of
         5. Market introduction – After years of optimization, a new variety   anthuriums and orchids.
        is finally launched.                                                                        Circle 14 on enquiry card

                      Protealis launches three new soybean varieties
            rotealis, the specialist seed and seed                             combined with a good yield-protein bal-
         Ptechnologies developer for high-per-                                 ance.
        forming legume crops in Europe, today                                   Protealis’ new soybean varieties, all suit-
        announces  the  launch  of  three  new  soy-                           ed for organic agriculture, respond to the
        bean varieties, following five new registra-                           rising demand for high-quality, non-GMO
        tions obtained in Belgium and Germany.                                 and locally grown soy for both food and
        One of the newly registered soybean va-                                feed applications in Europe. Historically,
        rieties that received registration both in                             soybean cultivation struggled to gain
        Belgium and Germany is PRO Denali, the                                 traction in northern Europe due to a lack
        first variety launched by Protealis in the 00                          of high-performance varieties adapted
        maturity group. These are tailored to grow                             to cooler climates.  Today, cutting-edge
        in the more moderate regions in  north-                                breeding technologies, including AI-
        ern-central Europe. The launch marks the                               driven selection—one of Protealis’ core
        company’s rapid product portfolio expan-  outperformed many of their peers in tri-  strengths—are changing the game in a
                                            als across multiple European regions. To-
        sion to 9 soybean varieties since its foun-  gether with our recently expanded sales &   soybean market in the EU-27 that is ex-
        dation in 2021, with the launch in the 00   marketing team, we are now ready for the   pected to grow by 13% by 20351. While
        soybean maturity group paving the way   next wave of our commercial expansion."  000 varieties excel in areas like the UK,
        to commercial growth across new regions                                Belgium, and  Germany, the newly intro-
        in central France, southern Germany, Aus-  Protealis’ soybean varieties PRO Tarana-  duced 00 group is ideal for central France,
        tria, and Hungary.                  ki (000 group) and PRO Denali (00 group)   southern Germany, Austria, and Hungary.
                                            were formally approved and registered
         Benjamin Laga, CEO of Protealis, com-  in both Germany and Belgium. PRO  Ta-  To support its current product portfolio
        mented: "We are very pleased to launch   ranaki was already registered in Germany   of now nine high-performance soybean
        these three new soybean varieties, fur-  in 2024 but is now also registered in Bel-  varieties, Protealis recently grew its sales
        ther showing our commitment to expand   gium.  The variety combines high yield   & marketing team with three new roles. A
        high-performance soybean cultivation in   with exceptional protein content and is   new sales agronomist will focus on Ger-
        Europe. With the introduction of our first   well-suited for food applications. PRO De-  man-speaking and rapidly growing East-
        00 category PRO Denali soybean, we have   nali stands out with its excellent first pod   ern European markets, while new roles in
        now moved into the field of the 00 matu-  height for efficient harvesting and delivers   both Market and Business Development
        rity group that opens up vast acreages   stable, high yields. Other approved and   will focus on the expanding regional soy
        across Europe. As from now, farmers in   registered new soy varieties in Belgium   acreage  and  develop  partnerships  with
        these more temperate regions will be able   include PRO Fogo (000 group), character-  the food and feed industry, increasingly
        to reap the benefits of high-performance   ized by its high yield in drier conditions,   demanding locally grown high-quality,
        soybean farming. Overall, our new vari-  and PRO Volcano (000 group), offering a   high-protein legume crops.
        eties were selected as they consistently   great adaptability to northern climates,         Circle 15  on enquiry card
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