Züchtungsinitiative Niederelbe wins innovation award for allergy-friendly apples

The Züchtungsinitiative Niederelbe (ZIN) has been awarded the 2026 German Horticulture Innovation Award for its development of allergy-friendly apple varieties under the POMPUR brand. This recognition was presented during the German Horticulture Day organized by the Zentralverband Gartenbau (ZVG) in Berlin.

The development of these varieties was a collaborative effort involving the fruit growing department at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences, which has been integrated into the ZIN breeding program for over 20 years. The research focused on selecting suitable genotypes from thousands of apple types and conducting clinical tests to ensure safety for consumers.

Two specific varieties, ZIN 168 and ZIN 186, have been scientifically tested and certified as allergy-friendly. This innovation targets the estimated 3.5 million people in Germany who suffer from apple allergies, providing a market solution that previously did not exist in retail.