Brazilian strawberry from Embrapa doubles production and reduces dependence on imported seedlings

Brazilian strawberry production is experiencing a new chapter with the expansion of the BRS DC25 Fênix cultivar, developed by Embrapa Clima Temperado. In just two years, the number of licensed nurseries authorized to multiply the variety doubled, from 18 in 2023 to 36 in 2025. The production of seedlings jumped from 2.5 million to over 5 million units and is expected to exceed 10 million in 2026. This advancement represents an important step towards reducing the dependency on imported seedlings, which still account for about 98% of the national production, coming from countries like Chile, Argentina, and Spain. The cost of foreign seedlings, quoted in dollars, varies between R$ 2.30 and R$ 3.60, which raises the cost of the production chain. According to researcher Sandro Bonow from Embrapa, the success of Fênix is linked to the lack of national cultivars adapted to the climate and logistics of the country. "Embrapa has come to contribute to changing this scenario, offering a ...