Agri-biotech advancements featured at Fruit Attraction

At the Fruit Attraction event, advancements in agricultural biotechnology were highlighted, focusing on new strawberry varieties and the integration of artificial intelligence in genetic breeding.

Nova Siri Genetics (NSG) introduced Elyson®, a new strawberry variety scheduled for commercial release during the 2026/27 campaign. Developed through genetic research and field experimentation, the variety aims to balance producer needs for productivity and vigor with commercial requirements for shelf life and consumer preferences for color, aroma, and sweetness.

Additionally, discussions at the Biotech Attraction congress addressed how AI and bioinformatics are transforming plant breeding. Following new European regulations for New Genomic Techniques (NGT), companies like Ploid AI are using algorithms to identify parental plants, genes, and molecular markers. This technology aims to reduce decision-making times and increase the success rates of genetic modifications, such as those using CRISPR, by allowing breeders to discard unsuitable material before lengthy field trials.