The partnership between Meristec and Vivero Juncal SPA includes the establishment of a state-of-the-art laboratory that will produce in vitro rootstocks of Degania, Belona, and Fairchild, using advanced micropropagation techniques. In parallel, work is progressing on developing the micropropagation protocol for Duke 7, with initial steps being taken for others such as Toro Canyon, with the aim of incorporating them into production in the near future.
In addition, both entities are finalizing the procedures to begin the industrial-scale micropropagation in Chile of the rootstock commercially known as Dusa® —a registered trademark of Westfalia Fruit— using Meristec’s proprietary protocol, which is unique worldwide. Vivero Juncal SPA will be the company responsible for marketing grafted plants on Dusa® to growers.
A global first
This initiative positions Meristec as the only company in the world to have developed industrial-scale micropropagation protocols for Degania, Belona, and Dusa® —a technical achievement that will allow Chilean nurseries and farmers to access high-yield, disease-free plant material backed by scientific validation.
“We are proud to collaborate with Meristec on this initiative, which represents a major advancement for Chile’s avocado industry. As a nursery specializing in clonal rootstocks, we strongly believe in the value of technology and innovation to deliver top-quality plants to our growers. This partnership gives us access to cutting-edge biotechnology and allows us to continue contributing to a more efficient and sustainable agriculture,” said Max Schmidt, partner at Vivero Juncal SPA.
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Through this collaboration, both entities reaffirm their commitment to sustainability, innovation, and the competitive growth of Chilean agriculture, aiming for a more profitable, efficient sector that is prepared to meet the challenges of climate change and global demand for high-quality food.
“This partnership represents a strategic leap for agricultural biotechnology in South America. At Meristec, we have spent years perfecting proprietary protocols that are now global benchmarks, and this collaboration with Vivero Juncal SPA allows us to connect with Chilean producers in a direct and effective way. It’s one more step in our mission to democratize access to applied science in agriculture,” said José María López, CTO of Meristec.
