A global fruit breeder operating out of Kern County announced Thursday it has acquired a South African company whose complementary portfolio of fruit varieties — including not-yet-commercialized strains — is expected to boost the combined company's international sales and work in ag innovation.
Sun World International LLC, a specialist in developing and licensing table grapes and stone fruit, said its purchase of Biogold Group concludes five years of discussion aimed at finding a partner specifically focused on citrus, mangoes and avocados.
Biogold appears to fit that description. A global supplier of citrus genetics, the company also known as Citrogold has a robust mango-breeding program, though it also manages the rights to mangoes developed by others.
According to a news release Thursday, the company also has among the world's largest portfolios of avocado varieties. It added that Biogold works with growers in every major citrus-growing region on the planet.
Biogold was founded by a small group in the 1990s. The company expanded internationally in the 2000s, when it became part of a more diverse ag portfolio owned by ANB Investments (Pty) Ltd. Its reach now extends to the United States, Europe and South America.
"We've developed unique expertise in helping fruit breeders monetize their valuable genetic assets, effectively serving breeders across sectors which include government, academia and private entities," Vice President Viresh Ramburan stated in a news release Thursday. He predicted the companies' merger would "catapult our combined company onto a new growth path."
Sun World, based in Palm Desert and Bakersfield with a multimillion-dollar laboratory and growing facility in Wasco, makes few acquisitions but saw particular promise in Biogold, CEO David Marguleas noted in the release.
"There couldn't be a stronger business case than this alliance," he stated, adding that the merger of the two companies would be seamless.
Zak Laffite, president of Wonderful Citrus, a major force in Kern County citrus production, said Biogold has been an important supplier to the company.
"We have tremendous respect for the quality of their varietals," Laffite said in the release, "and we know that with Sun World and Biogold under one roof, we will see tremendous benefits for the industry as a whole."