YAKIMA, WA - Exciting news recently came from the headquarters of the Associated International Group of Nurseries (AIGN®). The organization has inducted a new member: Potamia Fruit Breeding R&D Ltd. A partnership between Dr. Yasemin Evrenosoğlu and the S.S. Ödemis Bademli Nursery and Agricultural Cooperative, the company’s research is focused on the development of rootstocks and new fruit varieties with superior characteristics.
“The opportunity to work with this prestigious company in the territory of Türkiye, provides AIGN and Potamia with extended commercial opportunities neither has had before, further helping fruit growers produce the latest proprietary fruit varieties for consumers and continuing global business competitiveness,” said Dr. Gavin Porter, Chief Executive Officer of AIGN.
Potamia Fruit Breeding R&D will be represented on AIGN’s Board of Directors by Dr. Yasemin Evrenosoğlu, a professor at Eskisehir Osmangazi University. According to a press release, Dr. Evrenosoğlu serves as the General Manager of Potamia. Her team is currently working on two national projects involving the crossbreeding of late-ripening Japanese Plums and identifying commercial pear varieties with resistance to fireblight and pear psylla.
Representatives of the AIGN management team first traveled to Türkiye to visit Potamia and Bademli Cooperative’s facilities in 2021 and were instantly impressed by its professionalism and programs. After two years of negotiation, the application for membership was formally presented to AIGN’s board during the 2023 Annual Meeting in Melbourne, Australia, with final approval reached in December.
“Our decision to become a member of the Associated International Group of Nurseries network is a reflection of our goal of becoming a global player in fruit tree production and breeding studies,” said Hurşit Nallı, President of S.S. Ödemis Bademli Cooperative, and Dr. Evrenosoğlu. “Thanks to our cooperation with AIGN, we will strengthen international collaborations by following the latest developments in the sector, and benefiting from information sharing from various geographies.”
With the addition of Potamia, AIGN is now 12 members strong, holding a global presence throughout the major treefruit growing regions.
As the association continues to grow, ANUK will be sure to report.
