Rupert Hargreaves and Jamie Petchell’s new company, Global Plant Genetics, will specialise in soft-fruit and asparagus seed supply and intellectual property management
faced with an increasingly mature UK soft-fruit industry, two well-known faces have set up a new company to take advantage of overseas opportunities in breeding and seed supply.
Founder and previous shareholder of Hargreaves Plants, Rupert Hargreaves, along with the company’s former commercial director, Jamie Petchell, have set up Global Plant Genetics – a new venture that will specialise in berries and asparagus.
Asked why the two have decided to go it alone, Petchell says: “We see more opportunities globally than we do in the UK, so this new company is more of a global venture.”
He explains that the business will focus on soft-fruit and asparagus, where the duo’s experience lies, but they may also look at other crops. It will cover four areas: supplying plants and seeds, intellectual property management, joint venture business development and technical support. The first two areas will overlap with the Hargreaves business, although both will also offer something different, according to Petchell. “On the intellectual property management, we saw an opportunity to set up with more of a fresh approach. We feel there are market opportunities to target a more limited range of breeders at an earlier stage in their programmes. We will have an in-depth involvement with breeding, so rather than just being a recipient of a lot of new stuff, we will be able to target new varieties for specific markets.”
The new company will not grow plants itself, but will have
The joint venture opportunities will see the business partnering with companies in emerging countries, as Petchell notes that due to maturing markets and changing climates, this is where most investment is now focused. “The world population is currently around 6.2 billion, and it’s predicted to reach nine billion by 2050, with most of that in the developing world. There is lots more investment available in these markets.”
Global Plant Genetics will initially target African countries, and Petchell says some deals are close to being finalised despite this being early days – the company was only established in May of this year.
“There are just two of us at the moment, though rapidly we are going to need more support. I am based at home in Lincolnshire, and Rupert is based in Norfolk,” he says.
“We will have a heavy presence in the UK in terms of asparagus seeds, plants and crowns, and we will have a presence in new varieties of soft fruit, although this market is more difficult due to the many proprietary breeding programmes. We are on the look-out, like everyone, for the variety with the highest yields and the best taste, and if we find it then we will expand this side of the business.
“The UK soft-fruit market is not the main focus of the business due to market difficulties.”
With its USPs of going back to basics with breeders so they can target specific markets, and a lack of restriction on seed supply through working with various nurseries, Global Plant Genetics has got its sights set on the future.
And using their 50 years of combined experience, Petchell and Hargreaves certainly have the contacts and the knowledge to succeed.