Ohalo Genetics has announced the formation of the Ohalo Strawberry Consortium, a partnership with several leading industry players focused on improving strawberry breeding. The consortium's goal is to offer consumer-preferred strawberry varieties while streamlining the production process, making them available as true seed for the first time.
The Consortium introduces a new hybrid breeding system developed by Ohalo, which eliminates the need for traditional vegetative propagation, a method that has long been used to reproduce strawberry plants by cutting and replanting runner shoots. This system produces uniform seed, allowing for quicker and more consistent germination of field-ready strawberry seedlings. This innovation is expected to reduce production time and costs, as well as minimize pesticide use, addressing key challenges in strawberry farming.
One of the main advantages of this new approach is the ability to shorten breeding cycles, moving from years to months. The hybrid system allows for more predictable breeding outcomes, accelerating the development of new varieties with improved flavor, longer shelf life, and higher yields. The reduction in breeding time and more efficient propagation could also help alleviate some of the pressures farmers face, such as increasing production costs and labor shortages.
