Belarus is interested in assimilating Poland's innovative technologies for processing fruits and vegetables, according to Belarusian Deputy Agriculture and Food Minister, Vladimir Grakun. He made the statement during negotiations with a Polish delegation in Minsk on 8 November, BelTA has learned.
The meeting was held to discuss the development of bilateral cooperation. The official said that Belarusian companies take an interest in Poland's new technologies for processing fruits and vegetables. “For instance, blackcurrants are grown in Belarus. They are sold fresh. The remaining berries could be frozen, made into jams or other kinds of merchandise,” said the Deputy Agriculture and Food Minister. Blueberry farming is a new kind of business in Belarus. The area under blueberries is close to 700ha. “We are also interested in new approaches to processing blueberries. We sell them fresh for now,” the official told the Polish delegation.
Joint efforts to nurture new kinds of fruit varieties are another cooperation avenue Belarus is interested in. “Belarus has not imported planting material to grow fruit cultures for six years. We make it domestically. However, we are interested in planting material to start new gardens and create the genetic potential. Belarusian and Polish scientists could start working together to create new Belarusian-Polish crop varieties,” said the official.
Apples, pears, sweet cherries, sour cherries and other varieties are under consideration. The Belarusian Deputy Agriculture and Food Minister said he was confident that the meeting would give an impulse to the development of Belarus-Poland cooperation in growing and processing fruits and vegetables.
