News

The latest news regarding Better3Fruit

February 1st 2009:

Better3fruit acquires the global and exclusive rights to develop a new pear variety. The new variety produces a beautifully blushed Conférence-type pear that is harvested mid-September and that stores excellently. The variety was created at the research station of Litomerice in the Czech Republic. In the next years, virus free material will be distributed for testing at different locations over Europe and beyond. For the time being, the variety goes under its breeding code, TE-4179.

Prokop Tosovsky of SEMPRA Praha, owners of the rights, explains: "We believe that this pear will really bring something new to the consumer. We have chosen to develop this pear with Better3fruit because we think this company has the network and the skills to make the difference. We have put in place a solid agreement that guarantees to us that variety will be thoroughly tested in different climates and that the variety will be exposed to major producers and marketers. Of course, when the variety proves successful, we will share royalty income with Better3fruit."

May 9th 2006:

Better3fruit NV and SEMPRA Litomerice s.r.o. of the Czech Republic conclude a collaborative agreement on the breeding of new pear varieties. Yearly, more than 10000 seedlings will be created and evaluated in the Czech Republic. Advanced selections will also be tested in Belgium and in other pear producing regions worldwide. The magnitude of the programme ensures that novel varieties with added value to the industry and the consumer will result. The two companies will share expertise and, in the case of commercialisation, royalty revenues. Pear is the second most important hard-fruit species next to apple. World production is about one third of world apple production. Export value is in the order of 1.1 billion € yearly. The industry is in need of novel varieties with better eating quality, better storability, disease resistance and attractive forms and colours. SEMPRA Litomerice s.r.o. is part of SEMPRA Praha a.s. (www.sempra.cz), a breeder, propagator and producer of hard fruit, soft fruit, flowers and vegetables.

May 24th 2005:

The EFC (European Fruit Co-operation), the global and exclusive licensee of Greenstar® and Kanzi®, presents its masterplan. Based on a profound knowledge of the European market and of consumer preferences, EFC will apply a concerted marketing approach to ensure a controlled supply of top quality fruit. In 10 years from now, the acreages of Nicogreen and Nicoter are expected to reach 1 000 ha and 8 000 ha respectively. To date, 530 000 Nicogreen trees and 420 000 Nicoter trees have been planted.

March 30th 2005:

Better3fruit grants a license to the nurseries NV René Nicolaï, bvba Carolus C. and NV Johan Nicolaï to produce and sell trees of Better3fruit's novel apple summer varieties. As of the 2005-2006 planting season, 3 novel varieties will be available to growers in a number of countries, including the Benelux, Germany, France and Denmark.

December 22nd 2004:

Better3fruit enters into an agreement with the Department of Horticultural Science of the University of Stellenbosch, SA, to conduct a joint research project on fruit quality and tree productivity

July 22nd 2004:

Better3fruit completes a 1 Mio EUR capital increase. Together with the growing flow of revenues from its current products, Greenstar® and Kanzi®, the capital increase will allow the company to furter develop its technology platform and to bring to market the novel varieties it has in the pipeline. Subscribers to the capital increase are three existing shareholders, the European Fruit Co-operation, M.R.B.B. and the Gemma Frisius Fund II

July 12th 2004:

'De Standaard' reports that the first apples of the Better3fruit proprietary apple brands Greenstar® and Kanzi® will be available to consumers in Europe. The 2004 harvest is estimated at 2,000,000 kilogram for Greenstar® and 300,000 kg for Kanzi®. The new brands are expected to capture 3 to 5 % of the European market in the near future.

January 15th 2004:

the Institute for Promotion of Innovation through Science and Technology in Flanders (IWT) has decided to support the research of Better3fruit to the amount of 1 Mio EUR over the next three years. The research project will strengthen Better3fruit's apple breeding program.