Agri Business Review: Specials Magazine

Chile’s renowned fruit belt has become the stage for a significant shift in 2025, as one company redefines the fruit’s journey from the farm to global markets. Global Ag Supply, led by managing partner Anibal Schurter, has built a model that blends science, genetics, patents, intellectual property, infrastructure innovation, marketing and export intelligence. The results are better fruits for growers and consumers, with better taste, shelf life and most importantly, higher returns to help growers stand out in an increasingly competitive global arena. Schurter, 38, is per definition a Pomologist, Inventor and Farmer. He grew up in small plum farm in the Colchagua valley, Chile. He studied for a bachelor in agricultural engineering from where he spent his first professional years developing inventions and technics in California with a innovation-driven approach for the stone fruit sector, first in the US and then in Chile with farmers and scientists. His main key conviction is that growers, where all starts, deserve better access and control over new fruit genetics, systems and a clear path to high-value markets and returns. In October 13th, 2025 in the Colchagua Valley, Global Ag Supply harvested the first commercial Chilean cherry, that was also the first cherry box sold in China for season 2025/2026. This was a BQ Genetics variety: AG2, developed, selected and tested in cooperation with US companies. This fruit was air-shipped and sold directly through TikTok. Packs of 2.5 kilograms reached prices near 1,100 yuan, roughly 150 US dollars. This digital-first launch marked the start of other early sales in Europe and the US. More than a high first price, being early allows to select and open now markets in weeks with no commercial cherries available in the world. Innovation That Starts in the Orchard Global Ag Supply operates more like an innovation platform, partnering with growers and then jointly legally protecting new varieties and technologies. This recognition has allowed Global Ag to represent two of the world’s most successful stonefruit program for Chile: California based Zaiger and BQ (former Bradford) Genetics programs. With genetics as a founding block, Global Ag innovates also in orchard design, plant propagation , plant health (virus free), and proprietary IP, with patents in more than 16 countries. Two key US first patented tools, developed and commercially used in the US and other countries: Climate Control Tech (CCtech®) that allow by controlled mist, grow kiwifruit and avocados in very warm and dry regions and, and, the Dormancy Control System, DCtech®, developed in 2010 by Schurter and longtime US collaborator, grower and business partner John Warmerdam. The system uses controlled shades in autumn to block, amongst other effects, the UV-B red light in the 600-750 nm range, to promote uniform tree dormancy in winter, that later favor a better flowering, fruit set and fruit quality.