Rupert Hargreaves, Co-Owner, Global Plant Genetics

Last week marked a very special milestone for Global Plant Genetics (GPG) as we hosted the first ever GPG University of California, Davis (UCD) Strawberry Nursery Congress in California.

Bringing together 83 people from 21 countries, representing businesses that collectively produce over one billion strawberry plants per year, the event was a powerful reminder of the strength, ambition and global reach of the strawberry nursery industry.

From the moment I opened the Congress, there was a real sense of energy in the room. This was not just another technical meeting or industry gathering. It was an opportunity to bring together some of the most experienced, forward-thinking and committed people in the global strawberry sector, and to create a space for open discussion, shared learning and long-term collaboration.

Over four days, we heard from excellent speakers, explored the science and commercial potential behind new strawberry genetics, and spent valuable time discussing the future of variety development, plant production, intellectual property and international supply chains. The level of knowledge in the room was exceptional, but what stood out most was the willingness of everyone involved to contribute, challenge, listen and share.

A particular highlight was the field visit to Watsonville, where attendees had the chance to see innovation in action and experience varieties first-hand, including the global impact and performance of UCD Royal Royce . In Santa Maria we saw excellent commercial plantations of UC Eclipse, UC Golden Gate, UC Surfline and UC Keystone.  Seeing people from across the world walking the fields together, tasting fruit, comparing observations and discussing market opportunities was exactly what this Congress was designed to achieve.

It was also inspiring to spend time with the UCD students and gain a deeper understanding of the research, dedication and innovation behind the strawberry varieties that will help shape the future of the industry. The work being done at UCD continues to play an important role in advancing genetics, productivity and fruit quality for growers and nurseries worldwide.

For me personally, opening and closing the event was a proud moment. At GPG, we have always believed in building strong international partnerships around excellent plant genetics. This Congress showed what is possible when breeders, nurseries, growers, researchers and commercial partners come together with a shared purpose.

The event also provided the perfect moment to announce the launch of the new Global Plant Genetics website. This is an important step for us as a business, reflecting how GPG continues to grow, modernise and communicate more clearly with our customers, growers and industry contacts around the world. The new website will allow us to showcase our varieties, collaborations and technical expertise in a more accessible and professional way, while supporting the continued global development of our portfolio.

None of this would have been possible without the hard work of the entire GPG team. I am grateful to those who were with us in California throughout the week, and equally to the team back at home who worked incredibly hard behind the scenes to help make the event happen. It was a true team effort.

I would also like to thank the team at UCD, all of our speakers, partners, guests, hosts  and everyone who travelled from around the world to attend. Your enthusiasm, insight and support made the first GPG UCD Strawberry Nursery Congress a great success from start to finish.

We got it done – and it was incredible.

This first Congress has set a strong foundation for the future. It confirmed not only the global importance of strawberry genetics, but also the value of bringing the strawberry nursery industry together in person to share ideas, build trust and look ahead.

There will be many more updates to come soon, but for now I would simply like to say thank you to everyone involved. This was a proud moment for GPG, and an exciting step forward for the international strawberry community.