LivRio is pleased to present some of the latest news from breeder Ball.
BALL LEADS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FOR CUT FLOWERS IN COLOMBIA
Ball Horticultural Company is the leading breeder, propagator, and distributor of vegetative material supplies for professional ornamental fresh cut flower growers. BallSB, the company’s representative for fresh cut flowers in the highland tropics, is constantly researching and innovating to provide the latest flower trends.
It all starts with an “Aha!” moment, when a color, a flower, or a new way of growing is first imagined. BallSB works diligently to transform those “Aha!” moments into reality, with the most current technology and sustainable practices.
Their R&D team is continuously exploring new species to widen their catalog of new varieties, and their breeding programs are supported with the latest technology such as molecular markers, cytological techniques, and field evaluations.
To support this, in November 2018, BallSB inaugurated a new R&D center in Sesquile, Colombia. This center houses a commercial showroom as well as a trial and breeding station. They also work closely with two world-class laboratories, Innovaplants and Darwin Perennials, for tissue cultures.
And at the same time, BallSB works with many sites around the globe to provide clients with up-to-the-minute information on the performance of different varieties in different environments. To that end, a showroom station is currently being built in Kenya to service African farms.
BallSB maintains close contact with clients throughout the R&D process. Their philosophy is to become more than just a supplier: They want to become a true business partner whose main concern is to establish “win-win” relationships with stakeholders.
SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES
For BallSB, sustainability covers both breeding programs and production. Their new R&D station has rooftops that collect rainwater and store it in reservoirs to supply the farm’s water needs. They also planted more than 780 native trees around the farm to reforest and protect the reservoir. As breeders, BallSB seeks the most disease- and plague-resistant varieties, requiring fewer nutrients and less water, to reduce their environmental impact.
