California Tomato Research Institute is committed to playing the long game: fifty years and counting of asking and answering questions in the field

摘要

The primary function of the California Tomato Research Institute (CTRI) is to identify production challenges and opportunities and to fund projects which research and development can address. Funding is through tonnage assessments from voluntary grower members. Decisions are governed by the Board; made up of growers. With the aim of building and maintaining an effective, robust and dynamic research agenda CTRI management promotes durable coalitions between growers, allied industry and researchers. Since 1968, when the CTRI was founded, over 600 research projects have been supported with a total direct funding expenditure of over 11 million US$. These projects have primarily focused on improving field production, particularly in the areas of: pest management (250+ projects); cultivar development, pre-breeding and cultivar evaluation (150+ projects); agronomics (100+ projects); market development and process quality (75+ projects); and automation (25+ projects). With the impetus of a semi-centennialand a new managing director the CTRI has taken a deep dive into our historical results to help guide our path to continued success. The discussion will include examples of past successes as well as future opportunities. While some observers speculate that tomato yields in California have plateaued, the CTRI is positioned to continue to support the science to advance our industry.