In Letsitele, Limpopo a small laboratory has made a monumental impact on the global banana industry. Du Roi Laboratory, under the leadership of general manager Suné Wiltshire, stands as a beacon of innovation and precision in the production and distribution of premium-quality disease-free banana plants.
For nearly a decade, Wiltshire has guided the facility, which is now a global leader in supplying disease-free tissue-cultured banana plants, sending over six million plants annually to more than 35 countries.
“Much of our success can be traced to our relentless attention to detail,” Wiltshire says.
This attention spans every aspect of the operation, from the foundation block where the plants begin their journey to the final delivery to growers worldwide. Du Roi Laboratory’s commitment to quality and traceability has earned the trust of banana growers around the globe.
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The laboratory’s practices include comprehensive disease indexing, providing access to disease-resistant varieties like those resilient against Panama disease, and maintaining an insect-proof foundation block to ensure plant health.
A statistical overview
The impact of Du Roi Laboratory on the global banana industry is impressive. Since 2008, the lab has supplied a staggering 90 576 696 plants, with a significant portion of these plants exported globally.
In the last decade alone, 37 936 430 plants have been shipped internationally, while South Africa has received 20 640 539 plants. Du Roi Laboratory’s reach spans 42 countries, underscoring its pivotal role in the global banana supply chain.
Du Roi Laboratory’s facilities reflect its commitment to excellence. The initiation material for banana plants is meticulously sourced from either its foundation block or bio-secure greenhouse, depending on the phytosanitary requirements of the destination country.
The laboratory employs soma-clonal variation to identify elite single-clone selections known for their shorter plant height, shorter growth cycles, cylindrical bunches, and higher yields. These selections undergo international evaluations before being commercially distributed, demonstrating their effectiveness.
The laboratory is equipped with fully automated weaning facilities, onsite nurseries, 28 laminar flow benches, and 10 growth rooms. This infrastructure supports Du Roi Laboratory’s ISO 9001 certification – a testament to its rigorous quality management system, which has been in place since 2011 and renewed five times. This certification distinguishes Du Roi Laboratory as a responsible and reliable producer in the tissue culture banana plant sector.
Empowering the workforce
At the heart of Du Roi Laboratory’s success is its dedicated workforce. The company employs 145 people, with 87% of them having been with the company for over a decade.
Wiltshire highlights the significance of their team’s expertise and dedication: “Our business requires a keen attention to detail, and, especially for the 80+ women in the laboratory, mental endurance.”
In recent years, Du Roi Laboratory has made notable strides in combating global challenges. In 2020, the laboratory secured the rights to commercialise the Formosana variety, a strain highly tolerant to the devastating FOC TR4 Panama disease.
This strain, developed in collaboration with the Taiwan Banana Research Institute (TBRI), represents a significant breakthrough for banana growers struggling with the FOC TR4 strain, which severely impacts profitability and industry stability.
As Du Roi Laboratory continues to advance, its focus remains on acquiring and developing new elite plant varieties.
Wiltshire emphasises the laboratory’s commitment to innovation: “We are closely monitoring developments in Genome Editing and promising new varieties. Our goal is to enhance plant quality through new products and techniques while negotiating the best possible prices for transport and airfreight.”
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