Chancellor Gary S. May | Official website
Chancellor Gary S. May | Official website
The University of California, Davis, a prominent developer of strawberry varieties for both California and global markets, is terminating all strawberry licensing agreements with Eurosemillas S.A. Eurosemillas has served as a master licensee for older UC Davis strawberry varieties in countries outside the United States.
The decision to end these agreements follows the university's notification to Eurosemillas regarding alleged defaults on its contractual obligations, which were not subsequently addressed. The university aims to ensure stability for nurseries and fruit growers during this transition period and maintain access to older UC Davis strawberry varieties. Newer varieties will continue to be available globally through other partners such as Fresa Fortaleza and Global Plant Genetics.
“The UC Davis Public Strawberry Breeding Program has been a huge success for consumers, growers, California’s agricultural economy and the global strawberry market,” stated Helene Dillard, dean of the UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. “The step the university is taking today is necessary to support our growers and our program, and to ensure the scientific breakthroughs at UC Davis and resources provided by the state of California are cared for, managed and marketed properly.”
UC Davis holds active patents on 20 strawberry varieties licensed to nurseries for sale to growers. In California, these licenses provide exclusive access to new varieties for two years with reduced royalty rates. Similar licensing agreements exist elsewhere in the United States and Canada.
Internationally, UC Davis contracts with master licensees who collaborate with nurseries, farmers, and growers across various regions including the European Union, South America, China, parts of Africa and the Middle East, South Africa, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.
UC Davis remains committed to supporting its Public Strawberry Breeding Program by protecting its intellectual property and ensuring high-quality strawberry varieties are accessible both domestically and internationally. This approach aims to bolster public value while fostering robust agricultural economies.
The UC Davis Public Strawberry Breeding Program is noteworthy for producing about 60% of all strawberries consumed worldwide. It has positioned California as a leading producer of strawberries in North America. The program is primarily funded through licensing revenues that also cover patent expenses and support campus inventors as well as broader university research initiatives.
Annually generating between $8 million and $9 million from licensing revenue, the program focuses on developing strawberry varieties with improved yield, disease resistance, flavor, adaptability to diverse growing conditions among other characteristics. Additionally, it trains students and postdoctoral researchers in industry-relevant skills.