Tissue Culture Lab
Strengthening agriculture, one cell at a ime
AvaGro was the first company to establish a commercial tissue culture laboratory in Namibia and serves as a driving force in this innovative approach to precision agriculture. Tissue culture plays a vital role in our mission to foster sustainable growth and resilience within Namibia’s agricultural sector.
Our eSwatini partner, Pasture Valley, played a pivotal role in establishing the tissue culture laboratory at AvaGro Farm. The sterile facility is equipped with autoclaves, laminar flow benches, positive pressure units, a media preparation area, and dedicated growing rooms. AvaGro’s goal is to cultivate tissue cultures of priority crops such as bananas, sweet potatoes, and dates, with plans to expand to additional varieties in the near future.
What is Tissue Culture?
Tissue culture is a scientific process that involves the cloning of small amounts of tissue from a variety of plants. The tissues are then rapidly multiplied under controlled laboratory conditions to produce identical plantlets. By employing this method, AvaGro can propagate plants with specific traits, including disease resistance, high yield, and suitability to various environmental conditions.
Priority Species &
Economic Benefits
Bananas are a highly nutritious, popular, and versatile staple food in Namibia and the wider region. As a result, they have been identified as a priority species for tissue culture propagation at AvaGro's laboratory.
The selected varieties are characterised by large bunches, a sweet taste, and well-keeping quality. Tissue-cultured bananas have demonstrated yields that are up to 30% higher than those achieved through conventional farming methods.
The economic, environmental, and technological benefits of tissue culture cultivation are significant. Tissue culture offers a sustainable solution to enhance agricultural productivity and food security, from quicker and more successful multiplication of standardised plants to disease and insect resistance.
Partnership with Namibian Agronomic Board
AvaGro has partnered with the Namibian Agronomic Board (NAB) to support the development of Namibia's banana industry. Together, the partnership is conducting field trials in key production zones with favourable climates and soils to assess the adaptability of selected varieties. This initiative aims to benefit both small-scale and commercial farmers by assessing and enhancing production opportunities in the targeted regions.
Now available: Banana Plants
& Cultivation Trainings
We currently have tissue cultured, disease-free banana young plants available for sale. Field-ready Williams & Grand Nain varieties. Together with our partner NAB we also provide specialised training on banana cultivation.
Contact us for more information.