Costa Group has celebrated a significant milestone in the development of its world leading blueberry breeding program with the launch of BluGenix.
A cornerstone of Costa’s operations, the blueberry variety improvement program leverages close to four decades of plant breeding expertise.
Under the new Costa BluGenix brand, the program is expanding its reach into global markets and continuing the development of world-class blueberry varieties that deliver on quality and flavour.
Headquartered in Australia, BluGenix develops a diverse portfolio of blueberry varieties suited to a wide range of climates—from low latitude no chill to mid-chill regions. With a global footprint, each variety is tailored to thrive in its environment, delivering reliable performance in the field and exceptional flavour for consumers.
The program also tackles key sustainability goals including climate adaptability, pest resistance and water efficiency, as well as higher yields and harvest labour efficiency.
Costa Group CEO Marc Werner said the launch of BluGenix marked an important step in the program’s history.
“Our blueberry varieties are recognised around the world and our investment in the future of BluGenix will ensure we continue to expand our variety offerings,” Marc said.
“Our breeding program has a long and rich history backed up by world-leading experts driving our success. We look forward to the next step in our journey.”
Key features of BluGenix include:
- A large foundational germplasm and bank of genetic material in Australia.
- Technical breeding expertise for plant selection and growing, combined with the resources and technical support of the broader Costa berry business in Australia, and its international berry growing operations.
- Extensive network of blueberry farms in a variety of environments provides opportunity for on-farm trials and development of varieties suitable for different latitudes and climates.
- Evaluating over 25,000 seedlings and 500+ selections per annum.
Regional Director for Costa Berry international Leon Van Biljon said the BluGenix varieties were designed to offer solutions for every grower’s needs.
“With our extensive network of farms and growing expertise, we know what works. As BluGenix continues to expand globally, we look forward to delivering premium blueberry varieties that meet the needs of growers, retailers and consumers alike,” Leon said.
Learn more at blugenix.com.au
