An excellent and productive meeting was held on 22nd March 2017 in Lerida. "We agreed to combine the experience developed by Irta regarding the breeding of flat nectarines with CREAs know-how concerning peach genetics, starting with the huge germplasm bank available to the research centre," explains Marco Eleuteri (third left in the photo below).

"Our objectives are clear. We want the fruit to have an excellent aroma, not to be just sweet, and we also want it to be sustainable, and therefore healthy and resistant."

The entire project will be defined during next autumn. In the meantime, "there will be a first Irta exploratory mission in Rome over the next few weeks as well as a tour of the Eleuteri facility in Marche. Then, in July and August, we will go to Lerida to see the flat nectarine selecions. Finally, in October, we will agree on an 8-year varietal improvement plan."

In addition to Eleuteri, Ignaci Iglesias, Simo Alegre Castellvi and Ignasi Batlle i Caravaca from Irta also took part as well as Davide Neri and Marcello Cutuli from Crea and agronomist Umberto Santoni.

"We need to work on common issues to improve the quality and sustainability of our productions. This is achievable by widening the genetic basis of the varieties cultivated. We therefore need to avoid competition with Spain and instead work together to promote our products on the global market. Flat nectarines are the next frontier we will explore together," reports CREA Director Davide Neri.