New research manager Alice Patella joins the team at CIV, the Consorzio Italiano Vivaisti. The company will be present at Fruit Attraction, the international fair in Madrid dedicated to the fruit and vegetable sector which, for the Consortium, represents an opportunity to meet partners, customers and stakeholders, but above all an opportunity to share its vision: That of a breeding company that does not just create new varieties, but builds projects tailored to the needs of the supply chain.
© CIV - CONSORZIO ITALIANO VIVAISTI Soc. Cons.Alice Patella
"Fruit Attraction represents a great opportunity to present our innovations and consolidate relations with the various players in the fruit and vegetable supply chain. Agriculture needs innovation now more than ever, and CIV aims to be a strategic partner, capable of proposing solutions that bring value to the entire supply chain: from producers to distributors, all the way to consumers," explains Federico Stanzani, General Manager of CIV.
Thanks to its apple and strawberry breeding programmes, along with the enhancement of pear and cherry varieties, CIV develops tailor-made projects that precisely meet the needs of the various market segments.
© CIV - CONSORZIO ITALIANO VIVAISTI Soc. Cons.
With this in mind, the Consortium announces the appointment of Alice Patella as the new head of research to further strengthen the role of genetic and technological innovation within the variety improvement programmes.
"Taking over the leadership of research at such a crucial time for the fruit and vegetable sector is a great challenge for me, but also a concrete opportunity to generate value throughout the supply chain. My goal is to develop increasingly market-oriented breeding projects, capable of responding to the concrete needs of producers, distributors, and end consumers," says Patella.
© CIV - CONSORZIO ITALIANO VIVAISTI Soc. Cons.
"To do this, we will focus on three fundamental pillars: Listening to strategic markets, strengthening international collaborations, and integrating advanced technological tools. New technologies such as AI applied to varietal selection represent a fundamental lever for accelerating innovation processes, increasing precision, and reducing development times. Similarly, the use of molecular markers in synergy with prestigious research centres and universities will allow us to identify genetic traits of interest more effectively, thereby improving the agronomic and qualitative performance of new varieties."
The focus remains on sustainability: more resilient varieties, adapted to climate change, with better yields and reduced environmental impact. "Innovation cannot be separated from an ethical and responsible vision of progress. The future of breeding passes through here."