Page 28 - AWA Vol.42-No.5 issue

SEEd ANd PlANTSToCK

Fall Creek® launches Apex ‘FCM14-057’ Blueberry Variety

as latest Addition to the Fall Creek® Collection

Fall Creek Farm and Nursery, Inc., offi- “Apex represents what continuous trait
cially launched Fall Creek® Collection improvement looks like in practice,” said
Apex 'FCM14-057', marking the blue- Paul Sandefur, Ph.D., vice president of re-
berry variety's formal entry into the Fall search and development at Fall Creek.
Creek® Collection platform after an ex- “The combination of shelf life, fruit size,
tended period of commercial-scale eval- and yield potential in an early to mid-sea-
uation and grower adoption across multi- son window is not easy to achieve. What
ple production regiaons. makes Apex significant from a breeding
standpoint is that these traits hold across
Apex fills a defined gap in the Collec-
tion platform: an early- to mid-season o Firm fruit with a shelf life of up to 45 diverse production environments, and
option combining fruit quality, shelf per- days that breadth of adaptability is what earns
formance and sizing consistency that to- o Large, consistent berry sizing aligned a blueberry variety a place in Fall Creek®
day's blueberry export and retail chan- with export and retail grade specifica- Collection.”
nels demand. The variety joins a portfolio tions With Apex now formally part of Fall
built on regionally adapted genetics with Creek® Collection, the variety is avail-
proven field credentials, now three years o Early-to mid-season harvest window able through Fall Creek's global licens-
in market as an open licensing program o Yield potential exceeding 20 metric ing network. Commercial activation will
available to blueberry growers in zero- tons per hectare focus on importers and retailers across
and low-chill production environments. key importing markets, building aware-
o Flavor attributes that support repeat
The new variety launch arrives at a mo- consumer purchase ness of the Apex name and supporting
ment of growing demand for early-sea- pull-through demand as the blueberry
son blueberry supply consistency. As “Fall Creek® Collection exists to give variety scales.
retail programs work to extend premium growers access to blueberry varieties Fall Creek® Collection is one of two
blueberry availability across the calen- that perform where it counts, in the field distinct programs through which Fall
dar, varieties that combine shelf life, siz- and through the supply chain," said Fall Creek® brings advanced blueberry ge-
ing reliability and flavor in an early- to Creek Chief Commercial Officer Paul netics to growers globally. Together with
mid-season window are increasingly dif- Nselel. "Apex earns its place in the Col- SEKOYA®, it reflects a single company
ficult to source at scale. lection platform because it delivers on committed to expanding what is possible
both counts. Growers who have been
Variety profile: Apex 'FCM14-057' across chill requirement profiles, deliv-
working with this blueberry variety know
Agronomic characteristics confirmed what it can do, and this launch gives them ering regionally excellent varieties with
documented field performance.
through commercial field performance a stronger foundation to build around it
include: commercially.” Circle 34 on enquiry card

KWS welcomes European Parliament’s final approval
of New Genomic Techniques (NGT) regulation

Seed specialist KWS endorses the for- provides the necessary basis and confi-
mal approval of the EU Regulation on dence for breeders, reinforcing the Eu-
New Genomic Techniques (NGTs) fol- ropean Union’s framework for investment
lowing the adoption of the proposal by in innovative plant varieties and enabling
the European Council and the European continued progress in meeting the needs
Parliament. With this step, the EU has es- of farmers and growers. KWS expects
tablished a modern and science-based the forthcoming secondary legislation to
framework that supports innovation in bring clarity on details and feasible im-
plant breeding while ensuring transpar- plementation processes.a
ency. riculture.”
“We consider the adoption of the NGT “Until now, genome editing at KWS has “As a company with 170 years of ex-
Regulation an important milestone for the been confined to research activities. With perience in plant breeding, we rely on a
EU’s ability to remain competitive in plant the new regulatory framework in place, broad and continuously evolving toolbox
breeding innovation,” says Dr. Felix Bücht- we will now be able to leverage the tech- of methods to improve our varieties,” Dr.
ing, CEO of KWS. “For breeders, farmers, nology for product development includ- Felix Büchting adds. “The ability to add
and value-chain partners, this new frame- ing first field trials,” explains Dr. Thomas new tools to this toolbox is essential;
work creates clear conditions for apply- Ehrhardt, Head of Global Research and NGTs complement existing breeding ap-
ing modern breeding approaches that Services. proaches and offer additional potential to
help address plant health challenges and advance traits that benefit both farmers
contribute to more resource efficient ag- The adoption of the NGT Regulation and the environment.” Circle 35 on enquiry card
26 Vol. 42 No. 5