Hansabred

In 2008, Hansabred GmbH & Co. KG was founded as a European strawberry breeding and research company the shareholders of which are four widely known European companies:

• Kraege Beerenpflanzen (Germany)
• Vissers (Netherlands)
• R. W. Walpole Strawberry Plants Ltd. (UK)
• Plantas de Navarra, S.A. (Planasa) (Spain)

260 years breeding of the cultivated strawberry have led to numerous so-called funnel effects which resulted in susceptibilities to pathogens and in losses of flavour characterised by aroma patterns with low or even zero key volatile concentrations.

In this contribution, important aspects of the Hansabred breeding programme are portrayed: high resistance to different pathogens and improved strawberry flavour. A large germplasm collection, the “Professor Staudt Collection” is available with more than 900 accessions of wild species and a cultivar collection of ca. 200 cultivars. This background allows innovative pathways in strawberry breeding. First Hansabred cultivars were introduced to the market. Hansabred has initiated a project network together with fruit processing companies as well as national and international research institutes, universities, trial stations, and growers.