A strategic and technological alliance with global reach: Grupo Hijuelas and Vitácea Brasil join forces to usher in a new era of fruit growing in Brazil

Grupo Vitácea Brasil and Chilean conglomerate Grupo Hijuelas have announced an alliance to develop nurseries in Brazil, with the aim of strengthening access to advanced genetics and technological solutions for the country's and region's fruit-growing sector.

Both companies, with an established track record in the productive and technological development of the agricultural sector, have formed a joint venture that will enable them to combine local expertise, genetic innovation and biotechnological capabilities, in a context where the industry faces growing challenges related to production, climate and market access.

"The alliance between Grupo Vitácea Brasil and Grupo Hijuelas represents a milestone in the fruit-growing development of Brazil and Latin America," comments Murillo de Albuquerque Regina, partner and director of Vitácea, recently recognised as Agronomist of the Year by the Association of Agricultural Engineers of the State of São Paulo (AEASP). "By bringing together Vitácea's national presence and technical expertise with the technological capability, advanced genetics and global operations of Grupo Hijuelas, we create a centre of excellence that positions Brazil at the heart of an international chain of genetics, technology and solutions for high-performance fruit growing."

For his part, Grupo Hijuelas CEO Juan Ignacio Goycoolea adds that the vision is to build an agricultural development platform with global reach, "where technology makes the difference for the future of the industry". "Brazil is a fundamental step on this path, as it allows us to bring concrete solutions to growers facing increasingly complex challenges, from access to quality plants with market appeal to proper management," he highlighted.

Direct Benefits for Growers and the Market

Vitácea expects this alliance to provide Brazilian growers with direct access to cutting-edge varieties of berries and stone fruit, with internationally validated genetics adapted to Brazil's temperate, tropical and subtropical climatic conditions.

The expectation also extends to access to clonal plants through innovative micropropagation protocols from Grupo Hijuelas, ensuring quality and plant health. "The alliance opens doors for Brazilian growers to access technologies from international production chains, further consolidating Brazil's presence in the global high-value fruit sector," Murillo anticipates.

With this initiative, Vitácea and Grupo Hijuelas take a significant step in building more efficient and sustainable fruit growing, based on innovation, advanced genetics and strategic collaboration amongst actors who share a long-term vision for agricultural development in the region.

On this point, Goycoolea adds: "We are a technology company that facilitates innovative methods for the agricultural world, and in this spirit, we will put all our resources at the service of advancing Brazilian fruit growing."

The union between Grupo Hijuelas and Vitácea thus creates a bridge between research centres, universities and producing markets across different continents, fostering joint research projects, varietal development and technology transfer, with lasting impact on modern agriculture.

Next Steps

The project envisages development and implementation in two productive regions: one in Minas Gerais and another in Petrolina, from which Brazilian markets will be supplied with plants of different species. In an initial phase, the focus will be on berries and stone fruit, advancing later to other species and varieties.

About Grupo Hijuelas

Grupo Hijuelas is a multinational company of Chilean origin, formed by the union of several specialised enterprises in the production of high-quality plants, with deep roots in agriculture and horticulture. With over five decades of history, it has established itself as one of the world's leading nursery groups for fruit, ornamental and food-crop plants. It currently has a presence in various countries and markets, with operations extending beyond Chile, including Mexico, the United States, Peru and Africa, as well as collaborations in Colombia and other territories.

Grupo Vitácea Brasil

Grupo Vitácea Brasil, founded in 2003, has established itself as the national benchmark for the production of clonal grapevine plants with guaranteed genetic identity and phytosanitary certification, whilst also offering specialised technical services for the wine-growing sector. With over twenty years of experience, it serves growers of all scales across the country, combining quality, innovation and technical support at every stage of vineyard and orchard development.

The company also has a solid shareholding structure, composed of French partners, entrepreneur Thibaud de Salettes and nurseryman Patrick Arsicaud, as well as partner Afonso Davo, recognised for his extensive experience and standing in logistics in Brazil, reinforcing its strategic positioning and operational capacity at national level.

In recent years, Vitácea has expanded its operations beyond wine-growing, incorporating certified production of berries and stone fruit plants through licensing agreements with national and international breeders. In parallel, it maintains active involvement in research, technological development and strengthening of Geographical Indication programmes, contributing directly to increasing the competitiveness and recognition of Brazilian fruit growing and wine-growing.

With strategic presence in Brazil's main agricultural regions — South, Southeast, Centre-West and Northeast — Vitácea combines logistical reach, proximity to productive hubs and modern nursery infrastructure. Its multidisciplinary technical team, formed by specialists in viticulture, fruit growing, oenology and biotechnology, ensures high-level technical support, positioning the group as a strategic partner for productive projects and innovation in Brazilian agribusiness.