Vitrotech Transylvania, an innovative start-up from Cluj-Napoca, is launching the first in vitro laboratory in Romania dedicated to hazelnut cultivation, a project worth over 200,000 euros developed as a strategic extension of the Pădurea cu Aluni brand owned by entrepreneur Dorin Bob.
Equipped with state-of-the-art technologies, the laboratory will initially produce seedlings for the Pădurea cu Aluni project, which aims to develop the largest hazelnut plantation in the country and create a cooperative to revitalize local fruit growing. The laboratory in Cluj-Napoca, spread over an area of 500 square meters, is equipped with state-of-the-art technologies in the field. With an annual production capacity of approximately 300,000 seedlings, the project can support the planting of over 500 hectares dedicated to hazelnut cultivation.
“By integrating the latest technological trends, the Cluj-Napoca laboratory represents an important first step towards advanced research in fruit growing, essential for the revitalization of this agricultural sector in Romania. Our country can become an important player in regional hazelnut production, and the technology we are developing will support these businesses,” said entrepreneur Georgiana Bob, owner of Vitrotech Transylvania.
The laboratory includes a research division dedicated to studies for the multiplication of new varieties of hazelnuts and fruit trees. To this end, Vitrotech Transylvania has entered into a partnership with the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine (USAMV) Cluj-Napoca and will collaborate with renowned researchers from Italy.
“The establishment of this in vitro culture laboratory represents an important step for the development of the agricultural sector. The laboratory aims to produce high-quality planting material, but also to support innovation and sustainability in agriculture. At the same time, it offers opportunities for applied research in the field of Biotechnology, as well as internships and jobs for students of our university. I am glad that I had the opportunity to contribute my expertise to this project and I hope that it will have a significant impact and become a reference point in the field”, said Dr. Doina Clapa, Scientific Researcher at the Institute of Life Sciences of USAMV Cluj-Napoca.
“We encourage the development of hazelnut cultivation in Romania and in the region, and the Vitrotech laboratory will be a real support for local farmers. Combining agriculture with technology will generate exceptional results and can pave the way for profitable and long-lasting commercial partnerships with local farmers and investors”, said Ettore Fontana, General Manager of Agriserbia Ltd and Head of the Hazelnut Development Department in the Balkans for the Ferrero Group. Vitrotech Transylvania is a start-up founded by Georgiana Bob, daughter of businessman Dorin Bob.
Dorin Bob also owns Arovit, a traditional brand in the local food sector, while eyeing on becoming one of the largest hazelnut producers in Romania. He currently owns, through the company Pădurea cu Aluni, a plot of 460 hectares cultivated with hazelnuts and is preparing to expand by another 211 hectares. The objective is to reach a cultivated area of over a thousand hectares and to lay the foundations of a cooperative, to access advantageous markets for local farmers.