In a global scenario marked by competition, climate change, and pressure on profit margins, research into new varietal genetics has gone from being an option to becoming a requirement. Companies such as La Canastita, with more than 125 years of family history, have opted to develop their own blackberry varieties adapted to their climate, soil, and production pace. This strategy has allowed them not only to improve yields and quality but also to gain access to increasingly demanding international markets, where genetic differentiation translates into commercial opportunities.
La Canastita is now able to grow blackberries all year round, thus doing away with the crop’s traditional seasonality. This has been decisive in the consolidation of the supply of its blackberries in European markets. With an annual production of 1,600 tons, the company exports more than 80% of its production and is working to extend its international reach.
© La Canastita
The driving force behind this strategy is a genetic research program developed in collaboration with technological excellence centers, such as the CIB Margarita Salas (CSIC), and biotech companies. It’s based on advanced genetics, with the implementation of AI, molecular marker-assisted selection (MAS), and the progressive incorporation of functional genomics techniques for the design of parents. In this way, the company is managing to shorten varietal improvement cycles and improve its capacity to generate its own plant material.
This model for obtaining new genetics has led it to outsource its wide range of blackberry varieties to the international market. These are already grown in various EU countries, as well as in Morocco and Mexico.
© La Canastita The launch of the commercial brand Berryum Varieties symbolizes the culmination of this effort, with varieties such as Furia, Equa, Nemus, Kalika, Krola, and Indra.
Its remontant blackberry varieties stand out the most in this context. They allow multiple flowering and harvesting cycles, thus maximizing productivity and extending seasonal availability, characteristics that add value and competitiveness to the varietal range. This directly translates into higher profit margins for growers, who have access to high-value-added fruit, with greater stability in the supply, a longer shelf life, and greater resistance to pests and diseases. Such progress is a direct result of a clear strategy based on turning varietal genetic research into a backbone for the transformation of the agricultural model.
In the coming years, blackberry production is expected to soar, and with the introduction of these new varieties, the fruit will be ready to compete on equal terms with other more traditional berries.
La Canastita has also invested in research into the functional potential of blackberries as a healthy food. Given their high content of bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols and anthocyanins, their own varieties have been the subject of several studies that confirm their benefits in the prevention of highly prevalent diseases.
For more information:
La Canastita
www.lacanastita.com