CULTESA opens new business opportunities in the field tinerfeño.

The biotechnology company produces seeds of traditional crops of Tenerife and applied R & D + i to their research.

Cultesa, biotechnology company majority owned by the Cabildo, apply innovation in the agricultural sector through two lines of work: production and R & D.

The company sells annually more than one million annual banana plants, with customers including countries as far as Lebanon, In addition to investing in selection, improvement and evaluation of traditional Canarian distinct American banana cultivars, He explained the manager Cultesa, Teresa Cruz.

CULTESA also pays special attention to the conservation and production of pre-basic seed varieties sanitized old Canarian potatoes, whose demand has increased 40% in the last year, as said insular counselor.

“The approximate production of these mini tubers ranges from 50.000 and 75.000 kilograms of seed, although the marketing of potatoes is for the local market. However, the company is prepared to meet the necessary demand for certified seed as local varieties of potatoes can be exported”, says the insular counselor, Jesús Morales.

Another plant that produces Cultesa is the pineapple, mainly the MD2, a plant of last year were sold over 100.000 plants.

The variety of traditional tomato called canary “Oron” It was included last year in the Registry of Commercial Varieties of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment following the steps taken by the Cabildo through Cultesa, becoming the first commercial tomato variety Canary which falls within this register.

This fact allows the company to offer farmers a differentiated and plant material excellent properties regarding their flavor or taste. The results have been very satisfactory both agronomically and commercially. This variety is highly appreciated by consumers because it knows “authentic tomato”. In addition to the market and gourmet shops or consumed in restaurants, the tomato “Oron” It has begun selling in malls Lidl and Carrefour.

Agricultural biotechnology company has worked in parallel with six cultivars cuttings pitaya, whose sales increased 2016 a 135%, seeds and onions Guayonje, whose demand increased exponentially up 217%.

Applying innovation to agricultural production represents great opportunities for the sector.