Dive Brief:
- The California Strawberry Commission and University of California, Davis have reached an agreement that takes care of previous issues surrounding the strawberry plant varieties researched by the university to be used by the state's strawberry farmers.
- The agreement settles lawsuits that had been ongoing between the two parties since October 2013, commissions a new breeder, Steve Knapp, and creates a new strawberry advisory committee that includes members from the commission, university representatives, and strawberry growers.
- Per the agreement, UC Davis will release new strawberry varieties to California's farmers over the coming five years, and the commission will help the university in naming which strains are commercially viable.
Dive Insight:
Knapp, the new breeder brought on through the agreement, is a critical part of meeting this settlement. He brings decades of experience in plant genetics and genomics, including stints at Oregon State University, University of Georgia, Athens, and the Institute of Plant Breeding Genetics and Genomics. He worked for Monsanto as global director overseeing plant breeding for crops like cucumbers and melons, and most recently was the global director for vegetable breeding technology there.
The California strawberry industry is worth $2.6 billion, and the UC Davis varieties comprise 60% of worldwide strawberry production.