Italian Student Benefits From HortResearch Fellow

HortResearch has just signed an agreement to fund the studies of an ItalianP hD student at the University of Bologna in Italy for three years.

Fellowship recipient, Mirco Montefiori, is studying at the Dipartimento diC olture Arboree, under Prof Guglielmo Costa in an area covering kiwifruith orticulture.

Business Development Manager, Dr Roger Buchanan, says “HortResearch has had a long relationship with the University of Bologna. Horticulture and agriculture are key industries in both Italy and New Zealand and they areg rowing in similar ways. HortResearch and the Dipartimento di Coltore Arboree at the University of Bologna are leading research institutions in plant sciences and world leaders in research in Actinidia (kiwifruit). Therefore both organisations have a strong interest in developing future leaders inh orticulture.”

The relationship between the two institutions spans over 10 years and hase nabled several exchanges of staff and students. Several HortResearch staffh ave lectured at Italian universities and written for Italian horticulturalp ublications.

Currently a HortResearch kiwifruit orchard manager, Bruce Stowell, from the Te Puke Research Centre is on a three year secondment in Italy and isb ased at the University. Part of his appointment is to assist with the technical development of ‘Hort16A’ in Europe. ‘Hort 16A’ is a new sweet, yellow- fleshed kiwifruit cultivar bred and owned by HortResearch. The fruit are marketed under the brandname ZESPRIäGold kiwifruit.

Over time HortResearch plans to play a part in developing leaders in Italian horticulture who will assist it to maintain and expand its business in Italy.

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