CIV attends INN in Australia and Strawberry Symposium in California

The latest CIV strawberries have been presented at the recent North America Strawberry Symposium, which took place on March 7-10, 2023, at San Louis Obispo in California.

CIV President Mauro Grossi explains that "during the Symposium, our partner Idris Consulting, in the person of Professor Johan Aelterman, was the CIV speaker during the Genetics & Breeding session with the "40 years of strawberry breeding - 40 years of hydroponic production" presentation. CIV has, in fact, been dealing with the selection of strawberries that generate high-quality fruits that can be cultivated with little energy, needing little labor, and producing a low environmental impact for 40 years. What is more, our partner Idris boasts 40 years of experience in the hydroponic production of strawberries and providing consultations for hydroponic production in various climates - from the Polar circle to the Mediterranean."    

Mauro Grossi, President of CIV

"That is why Idris has recently set up a test greenhouse at the Itracon Selection Center in Serskamp, Belgium, with around 30 new CIV varieties and selections, which are assessed due to their suitability for hydroponic production with LED lights. The main focus is on varieties with a low cold requirement and very early varieties with a high cold requirement. In the same area, a new greenhouse will be used to test 30 new remontant varieties." 

To perform its varietal selection and innovation activities, CIV performs research activities in experimental test fields located in various areas in Italy, Huelva/Spain, Northern Europe, and the UK with the objective of identifying their agronomic value, implementing varietal innovation and applying the relevant agronomic techniques.

"The American event also represented an important occasion to meet our current partners from the American continent (Canada, US, Mexico, etc.) as well as international ones (Europe, Asia, Australia, etc.) and, at the same time, it was an important occasion to showcase the latest CIV varieties to develop our projects throughout the world." 

The Consortium boasts an extremely articulated and complete strawberry portfolio to meet the needs of both producers from different areas using various production systems (open fields, soilless crops, greenhouses, hydroponic cultivation, etc.) and those of global distribution.

Murano^pbr strawberries

Among the remontant varieties produced in northern Europe, Murano^pbr continues to have excellent market penetration in the British and North-American markets. It is similar to other newer varieties such as Ania®/CIVRH612^pbr, which boasts a flavor similar to that of wild strawberries, and Cantus®/CIVRH621^pbr, which boasts excellent shelf-life.

Lycia strawberries

CIV varieties with a low cold requirement include the strawberries typical of the Caserta and Naples area, such as Parthenope®/ CIVS115*, characterized by early ripening and high-quality in cold winter months, or those with a high cold requirement selected for continental climates such as Lycia®CIVNB557*, which combines excellent productivity and excellent fruit quality, or Klodia®CIVH725, a productive variety which is just as early as Clery^pbr, which boasts very sweet fruits with a pronounced aroma and an appealing color. 

"As for apples and other fruits in general, CIT is a Founding Member of the International New Varieties Network (INN), which organized meetings on March 6-11, 2023, in Melbourne (Australia) and Hawkès Bay (New Zealand) attended by CIV vice-president Pier Filippo Tagliani". 

The INN meeting in Australia

"It was a fruitful meeting between leading nurseries with the shared objective of forming a strong network to support the development of new varieties with a global vision and to coordinate new projects as a single group at the international level." 

The INN network is made up of a group of companies boasting significant experience in a vast range of topics, including the creation and development of new and unique varieties and the nursery production and commercialization of varieties. INN members have been working together for over 20 years, making available their services and skills to various owners and producers worldwide. 

"The most recent CIV projects that we are also promoting via the INN network include apple variety CIVM49^pbr/RedPop®, for which VOG is the exclusive European licensee and which is currently being tested in various extra-European countries such as the US, Canada, South Africa, and New Zealand. 

New apple variety CIVM65*/Desy®

The recent apple variety CIVM65*/Desy® was also fruit of the CIV R&D Program. It was developed by the exclusive European licensee  Rajpol Sp. Z.o.o. - one of the leading Polish cooperatives - which adopted the Pola® brand to sell the fruit on the Polish territory. Its characteristics make it very interesting for the Asian market as well: very appealing bright red color, crunchy flesh, juiciness, and sweetness. The plant is rustic, resistant, and easy to manage.

Macfrut 2023
CIV will attend Macfrut with its own stand as part of the space shared by participants in the Civi-Italia project for the next International nursery and varietal innovation salon to be held during the fair. It will also attend a Workshop on genetic improvement and new fruit varieties (strawberry, apple).

"It will be the occasion to also present the latest selections and/or varieties fruit of our various genetic improvement research programs that we are introducing and developing on a global level. We also work with the leading public and private European and international bodies (e.g., Canada, US, New Zealand, Mexico, the UK, etc.)."