Sun World expands ag diversity with Biogold

Sun World International LLC, a global leader in the fruit industry with significant operations in Wasco, has announced the acquisition of Biogold Group, a renowned South Africa-based global fruit variety rights manager. This strategic alignment brings together two industry powerhouses, combining Sun World's expertise in table grapes and stone fruit with Biogold's leadership in citrus and mango genetics.

For over 50 years, Sun World's Center for Innovation in Wasco has been at the forefront of agricultural advancements. A dedicated team of plant breeders, scientists and operations staff work tirelessly to develop superior fruit varieties for licensees and consumers worldwide. The acquisition of Biogold marks a new chapter in this legacy, offering exciting opportunities for Sun World and the Wasco community.

David Marguleas, CEO of Sun World, emphasized the significance of this acquisition: "This alliance is a powerful accelerant for both companies and a seamless integration for our strong organizations and leadership teams." By joining forces with Biogold, Sun World aims to dramatically enhance its genetics offerings, which could have a substantial impact on local growers and the broader agricultural community in Wasco.

Sun World's chief science officer, Jennifer Petersen, highlighted the company's ongoing commitment to innovation. "The Sun World mission is to develop exceptional varieties of specialty perennial fruit crops," Petersen said. "In the spring of 2021, we hired Moises Gonzalez, a specialty crop breeder, to begin new breeding programs in citrus, mango and avocado. Each of these crops provides us a unique opportunity to delight growers and consumers in crops that are not well served by proprietary genetics programs. The Sun World acquisition of Biogold allows us to immediately grow these programs through the results of our own internal breeding efforts coupled with the years of experience and expertise of the Biogold program."

This acquisition not only strengthens Sun World's global position but also bolsters the company's ongoing efforts in Wasco. With Biogold's extensive portfolio, Sun World is poised to expand its offerings to over 2,700 licensees worldwide. This could lead to increased demand for local agricultural products, bringing new business opportunities and reinforcing Wasco's role as a hub of innovation in the fruit industry.

Viresh Ramburan, Biogold's vice president of global licensing for citrus and subtropicals, shared his enthusiasm for the merger. "This acquisition instantly catapults our combined company onto a new growth path," he said. "The symbiotic relationship between Sun World and Biogold will be highly scalable, benefiting both parties and our customers – fruit breeders and grow