The recent CPVO's feature on Advanced Berry Breeding (ABB) showcases a leading Dutch enterprise specializing in innovative raspberry breeding. Founded in 2006, ABB’s mission is to transform the raspberry breeding industry by creating diverse, profitable, and sustainable raspberry varieties that empower growers globally. ABB focuses on producing low-input raspberries requiring less water, fertilizers, and chemicals, while setting new standards in ease of cultivation, post-harvest quality, and profitability.
ABB’s breeding program is organized into three distinct lines tailored to market and grower needs:
Premium Line – Offers high-end varieties with exceptional firmness, vibrant taste, rich color, and extended shelf life. These varieties are designed for premium markets and come with features that minimize leakage and maximize shelf performance, providing strategic value for growers targeting upscale consumers.
Easy-to-Grow Line – Focused on efficiency and adaptability, this line includes resilient, high-yielding varieties suited for diverse climates and requiring lower plant density. It appeals to both novice and experienced growers by delivering operational and cost efficiencies.
Winter Line – Targets off-season production with cold-tolerant varieties that thrive without the need for chill, creating opportunities for year-round supply and early market access during periods of low competition.
ABB’s innovations are driven by cutting-edge tools, including molecular markers and seed breeding, borrowed from advancements in vegetable breeding. These techniques enable precision in identifying traits like resilience, disease resistance, and extended shelf life, accelerating the development of high-performing varieties. The company actively integrates these innovations to ensure their varieties meet evolving climate, market, and sustainability demands.
The CPVO plays a crucial role in ABB’s success, providing legal protections through Plant Breeders' Rights. This framework safeguards ABB’s intellectual property, preventing unauthorized propagation while fostering trust among growers and nurseries who depend on the company’s high-quality varieties.
In response to climate change, ABB adapts its breeding practices to address shifting production regions and extreme environmental conditions. The company simulates challenging climates in its testing facilities, ensuring that only the most resilient varieties advance. ABB also promotes sustainable growing methods, such as using beneficial organisms to reduce chemical inputs, and designs plants optimized for low-resource systems. This approach guarantees that their varieties perform well even under demanding conditions.
Biodiversity is a cornerstone of ABB’s breeding strategy, ensuring resilience and adaptability in response to global challenges like climate change, water scarcity, and stricter regulations on chemical use. ABB combines diverse genetic sources to create robust varieties tailored to market needs. The CPVO system supports this mission by protecting genetic innovations, incentivizing ongoing research, and fostering the development of sustainable plant varieties.
In summary, ABB exemplifies forward-thinking innovation in raspberry breeding, combining advanced genetic tools, sustainability-focused practices, and a robust intellectual property framework to address the challenges of a rapidly evolving agricultural landscape.
Read the full interview here.
