by Vassilis Michael, CEO of FAS, host of the event, explained how the company started its supply business 24 years ago. He also highlighted the company’s commitment to seed production, developing new innovative varieties adapted to market needs. At the same time, Mr. Michael stressed the importance of combining research and production and the role played by the company alongside farmers and industry.
The company’s genetic program manager, Dr. Vincenzo Natoli first spoke about the objectives of the research program and the breeding process, as well as the evaluations of the resulting genetic material. This research aims to fulfill the objectives of all the actors involved in the production chain, in order to create varieties that will have a high yield and that will have excellent qualitative and agronomic characteristics. Some of the results of research carried out in recent years on behalf of the FAS by Dr. Natoli and his team of geneticists have been presented in the experimental field. It should be noted that the product of this in-depth work is now immediately available on the Greek market since several of the new FAS varieties are already registered in the European seed catalog (PYRROS, PELOPAS, FELIX, KIKEON, NISSOS) and others are in register. The participants were impressed by the cereal hybrids resulting from the genetic program and had the first opportunity to see them. Hybridization of hard and soft kernels promises significant benefits.
A special impression was made by the HARPPON agar-free barley variety, which is ideal for hay bales and mixtures. She is in her 2nd year of registration in the National Registry.
In addition to hard grains, visitors had the opportunity to assess the company’s research areas in other grains:
Tender seeds: Compared to the already existing AFRODITE, STENDAL, GOGGAS-2, YECORE-E, DODONI.
Barley with: FELIX (new variety very productive and ideal for brewing), KIKEON (new double row and very early variety with excellent yield) AQUIRONE, MARTINO, THESSALONIKI, TRIPTOLEMOS
Triticale with: NISSOS (New very early variety with very long ears and high productivity), CATRIA, QUIRINALE
Rolled oats with: PALLINI and FORECAST.
Wheat varieties tested
In addition to the new varieties presented, visitors had the opportunity to visit the estate and directly see the best-known varieties grown by the company, under the same conditions. This allowed them to compare these varieties and assess the differences between them.
SQUARE: Variety of high yields and quality characteristics such as protein, gluten and density, with good adaptability in all areas.
Pyro: Very early variety with excellent drought resistance and impressive quality characteristics.
PELOPAS: Very productive variety with black agana, great adaptability to all climatic conditions and great resistance to fungi.
VENDETTA: A variety with high quality characteristics, impressive yields and the characteristic phenomenon of “staying green”, i.e. keeping the surface of the leaves green until just before full ripening.
GATTUSO: Very early, high yielding variety with incredible yields especially in fertile soils
PIETRAFITTA: The premium variety, ideal for dry heat regions and low productivity soils. The solution for arid areas where the cultivation of durum wheat is considered marginal.
CANNAVARO: Variety with increased quality characteristics and excellent disease resistance excellent yields in lowland areas.
DANAOS: Early variety with high resistance to stressful situations.
TORREBIANCA: Variety with excellent production performance both in fertile soils and in hilly areas where winds prevail. Excellent drought resistance and impressive characteristics.
German: Variety with excellent disease resistance, quite qualitative with excellent yields especially in lowland soils with a mild climate.
SPARTACO: Variety with a short biological cycle, high productivity and quality, its characteristic, the “stay green” phenomenon
DORATO: Mid-early variety, very productive with great adaptability, productivity superior to known varieties by 10% in all types of soils and climates.
DID : Mid-late variety, very resistant to cold, with a high protein and production index, excellent resistance to diseases, ideal for cultivation in the northern regions of the country.
