São Paulo – Vineyards developed by the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) are being tested in Egypt and Morocco. In April this year, the Embrapa began sending propagation material for vines, peach trees and mulberries to companies based in six countries, and one of them, the Spain-based Special New Fruit Licencing Mediterraneo, is test-growing the products in Egypt and Morocco, as well as in Spain.
The information was supplied by the joint manager of Planning and Business at the Embrapa’s Technology Transfer unit, Raul Osório Rosinha. The vines being tested in the two Arab countries produce seedless grapes. According to Raul, Embrapa is the only research company that operates with improvement of seedless grapes for tropical areas, and this is why the product elicits interest from regions with climates similar to Brazil’s.
The propagation material for seed-bearing trees that Embrapa is sending to other countries includes seeds and seedlings. The plants have differentials when compared with conventional products. Additional features range from advantages to growers, in the case of fruit more resistant to certain diseases or trees that bear fruit during the offseason, to retailers, in the case of less perishable products, and to consumers, in the case of sweeter fruit.
Certain varieties may offer advantages to either growers, retailers or consumers, or to all three. Raul also claims that the vines developed by Embrapa may differ from regular ones in size, fruit consistency, and how long the grape remains on the bunch without falling down, among others. According to Raul, Embrapa has received nine other orders, from African, European and Central American countries, for fruit tree propagation material, but is still evaluating the operations.
According to him, the process involves propagation material for which there are intellectual property rights, so the seriousness of the companies that receive it need to be checked thoroughly. The shipping of fruit tree seeds or seedlings is not charged, because the products are meant solely for testing purposes. The only contracts signed concern agronomical validation. In case the varieties adapt well to the country, however, new licensing contracts are signed with the company that did the testing, so that it may produce the seeds and sell them on the market. Embrapa is then paid royalties.
Raul explains that in addition to the royalties, when considering sending propagation material, the market is also taken into account, i.e. whether the fruit produced in the target countries will not compete with Brazilian exports. This, according to the manager, is looked into alongside the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply, companies and other sector organizations. Thus far, propagation material for fruit trees has been sent to companies based in Spain, the United Kingdom, Chile, South Africa, Peru and Barbados.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
