Nova Siri Genetics (NSG), an Italian company specializing in research and experimentation of new strawberry and berry varieties, has just signed an exclusive partnership with two Indian companies “Mahaberry Private Limited” and “8 Berries Farm & Nursery Private Limited,” aimed at the commercialization, experimentation, and multiplication of NSG's strawberry varieties and new selections.
The two companies, with an extensive network of over 300 contract farmers across the Indian territory, also own berry farms in the regions of Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra, and Ooty, Tamil Nadu, which account for 80% of the country's total strawberry production. “Mahaberry Private Limited” will represent NSG and manage the varieties in Central and Northern India, while “8 Berries Farm & Nursery Private Limited” will cover Southern India.
Carmela Suriano, EMEA Director of NSG, stated: “This agreement confirms the potential of our breeding program. Alongside the Mediterranean basin, North Africa, and South America, the Asian continent is also an area of great interest for the development of our varieties. NSG's goal is to offer innovative strawberry varieties that can provide competitive advantages to producers globally.”
The agreement includes the commercial development of NSG's varieties, particularly Melissa, already present in the Indian market, NSG 203-Marimbella® and NSG 465-Rossetta®, along with experimentation by local producers of new selections.
Pillai Srinivasan, Managing Director of both Indian companies and exclusive partner of NSG in the Indian territory, stated: “We and our contract farmers across India are pleased with NSG's resilient cultivars, which ensure abundant production, good taste, and excellent fruit consistency. We look forward to experimenting with and developing new varieties in our country.”
The Melissa strawberry has long been appreciated by our farmers and Indian consumers because it is a perfect combination of premium quality strawberry with orange-red color, incredibly sweet taste, flavor, and excellent shelf life. This variety has shown remarkable adaptability to our pedoclimatic conditions, and we expect an increase in the share of this cultivar in the coming years.”
Given the excellent results already achieved by the strawberry cultivars from the Italian breeding program in India, both parties are confident in the increase of NSG's variety presence. Plans are already underway to establish local nurseries for the production of commercial plants intended for strawberry producers in the Indian subcontinent.
Source: Nova Siri Genetics
