At Kiwifruit Breeding Centre (KBC), we specialise in developing innovative kiwifruit cultivars through cutting-edge, evidence-based breeding strategies.

Our process begins with insights from Zespri, identifying global market opportunities for new kiwifruit varieties. From there, we define the ideal combination of traits needed to meet Zespri’s high standards—balancing the future needs of consumers, growers, and the supply chain.

To achieve this, we often need to generate new knowledge or technologies. That’s where our partnership with Plant & Food Research comes in, providing world-class scientific expertise to support our breeding efforts.

Once target traits are identified, we tap into our extensive parental population to select the best candidates for crossbreeding. Seeds from these crosses are collected, catalogued, and germinated to produce thousands of seedlings—our next generation of potential cultivars.

Using advanced DNA marker technology, we screen these seedlings early, selecting only those with the most promising genetic profiles. This approach, developed with Plant & Food Research, boosts efficiency, maximises land use, and ensures our team focuses on the most promising plants.

Selected seedlings are planted at high density and undergo a rigorous, multi-year evaluation process. We assess growth, pest and disease tolerance, and fruit quality using tools like near-infrared scanning and routine quality checks.

Beyond breeding, KBC also conducts foundational research to better understand key traits and develop high-throughput screening methods. These efforts generate valuable datasets that inform our decisions and open up exciting new opportunities for the future of kiwifruit.