Summerland, BRITISH COLUMBIA (November 20, 2024)- New Zealand-based Prevar and Canada-based Okanagan Specialty Fruits (OSF) BB #:337660 are pleased to announce a significant new Research and Development partnership today.
This collaboration will focus on advancing innovative breeding technologies for apples and pears to address the evolving needs of growers, consumers, and the environment globally. The multi-year initiative will leverage cutting-edge tools such as genome editing to enable a fast and more precise focus on specific traits, to develop cultivars with improved pest and disease resistance, reduced food waste, and enhanced nutritional benefits.
Both Prevar and OSF bring complementary strengths to the table. OSF is known as a pioneer in fruit innovation using biotechnology, based on their proven Arctic Apple platform, while Prevar brings to the partnership, access to world leading genetic material as well as a proven track record of commercial success with products like PremA96 – a category defining snack apple which was branded as Rockit, and PIQA interspecific pears, a world first in pear category innovation.
A key element of this partnership is the involvement of Plant & Food Research, Prevar’s long-standing strategic partner and New Zealand’s apple and pear breeding institute. Together with Plant & Food Research, the partnership will combine technological innovation, scientific rigor, and commercial expertise to drive meaningful advancement of the industry.
The agreement, formalized at the world’s largest apple trade show ‘Interpoma’ in November 2024, marks the beginning of this collaboration, which will commence in January 2025. The first pre-commercial products from this initiative are expected to be available in 2029.
“Our partnership with OSF and Plant & Food Research is a milestone in our mission to bring innovative and sustainable solutions to the apple and pear industries,” said Tony Martin, Chief Executive of Prevar. “Together, we’re combining decades of expertise and bold new technologies to develop cultivars that address key challenges while creating exciting opportunities for growers and consumers.”
Neal Carter, Founder and CEO of Okanagan Specialty Fruits, added, “We’re excited to work alongside Prevar and Plant & Food Research in this groundbreaking initiative. This collaboration represents a shared commitment to using science and technology to create the next generation of apples and pears that will transform our industry and create new opportunities for growers and consumers.”
“OSF’s experience in commercializing apples developed using biotechnology will provide valuable insights should New Zealand regulations and sentiments towards these technologies change,” says Professor Richard Newcomb, Chief Scientist at Plant & Food Research. “We are looking forward to working alongside OSF and Prevar to better understand how we can apply our gene discovery research in this new and fast-changing commercial setting. This in turn will help us support New Zealand’s horticulture sector in making decisions on how they could apply this to future-proof the sector.”
About Okanagan Specialty Fruits
Okanagan Specialty Fruits (OSF) is a vertically integrated company specializing in the development, growing, processing, and marketing of novel tree fruit varieties developed through biotechnology including bioengineering and genome editing. Based in Summerland, British Columbia, Canada, with operations in Washington State, USA, OSF was founded in 1996 and acquired by an affiliate of Third Security, LLC in 2019. OSF’s flagship product is its Arctic apple varieties. Arctic apples provide a sustainable solution to less food waste and improved apple consumption. For company information and partnership opportunities, visit www.okspecialtyfruits.com.
About Prevar
Prevar is a private joint venture company based in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand. Our shareholders are New Zealand Apples & Pears Incorporated, Plant & Food Research and Apples and Pears Australia Limited. Prevar was established in 2004 to develop and commercialise new apple and pear varieties for licensing in New Zealand and around the world. Our role is to provide access to innovative new varieties that meet the changing needs of consumers, enhance category growth, have positive and sustainable environmental impacts while generating price premiums and premium returns for growers. The company has now commercially licensed 18 varieties, has entered a total of 36 license agreements and holds more than 183 trademark registrations across the globe. For more information visit www.prevar.co.nz.
About Plant & Food Research
Plant & Food Research believes that science can create a better future. A New Zealand Government-owned Crown Research Institute, Plant & Food Research works with its partners to use world-leading science to improve the way they grow, fish, harvest, prepare and share food. Every day, Plant & Food Research has 1000 people working across Aotearoa New Zealand and the world to help deliver healthy foods from the world’s most sustainable systems. For more information visit www.plantandfood.com.
Media Contact
Rebecca Catlett
Director of Marketing & Communications, Okanagan Specialty Fruits
rcatlett@osfruits.com
Amanda Lyon
Brand Manager – Prevar
amanda@prevar.co.nz
Emma Timewell
Communications Manager – Plant & Food Research
emma.timewell@plantandfood.co.nz
