OriGene Seeds: Pioneering Climate-Resilient Varieties for a Changing Environments

Supporting Growers Amidst Climate Challenges
Globally recognized for its innovative seed development, particularly in Cucurbitaceae and especially in watermelons, OriGene Seeds, led by Dr. Eyal Verdi, the founder & CEO, is committed to helping farmers thrive despite the increasingly unpredictable conditions posed by climate change. With the frequency of extreme weather events on the rise, OriGene Seeds emphasizes advanced research and breeding to deliver solutions that support growers through these evolving challenges.

Tackling Global Warming’s Impact on Agriculture
Climate change has introduced a range of new obstacles for agriculture, including unpredictable rainfall, reduced water resources, and increased production costs. These challenges affect crop yield, quality and profitability, creating uncertainty for growers worldwide. In response, OriGene Seeds has intensified its R&D efforts to develop vegetable varieties that can endure these environmental pressures, ensuring steady productivity and supporting the resilience of the farmers and the agricultural sector.

Innovative Varieties Tailored to Farmers’ Needs
OriGene Seeds invests considerable resources into breeding varieties that mitigate climate-induced challenges, with a special focus on watermelons designed to excel under harsh conditions. These resilient crops exemplify OriGene Seeds’ commitment to empowering farmers to navigate today’s complex agricultural landscape successfully.
OriGene Seeds’ Essence Watermelon: Pathogens tolerance and Drought-Resilient Variety for Semi-Dryland Farming. This unique watermelon, Essence, is tolerant to the biotic pathogen Powdery Mildew, protected by patent and Plant Breeders Rights.

Essence | OriGene seeds All rights reserved ©

Essence Developed for resilience under water-scarce conditions, Essence provides consistent yields even in regions facing water limitations.
This unique hybrid, “Essence,” is specifically bred to reduce water and fertilizer requirements without compromising fruit quality or yield. Farmers growing OriGene Seeds watermelons save approximately 30% on irrigation and fertilization, a significant benefit in regions prone to drought.
Drought has become a critical issue affecting agriculture worldwide, with impacts increasingly seen in the USA, South America, the Middle East, Russia, Australia and the Far East. In response, OriGene Seeds has focused its watermelon-breeding program over the past decade on developing drought-tolerant traits. By integrating wild watermelon genes, OriGene has created varieties that thrive with 30% less water compared to standard commercial watermelons. This innovation allows farmers to maintain high-quality yields with less water throughout the growth cycle.
The company’s approach combines traditional breeding with cutting-edge agricultural technologies such as precision agriculture tools. These include continuous soil moisture monitoring, advanced irrigation management, drone-based field imaging, and heat-sensing remote sensors. Such technologies enhance water-use efficiency, lower irrigation costs, and empower farmers to make informed decisions based on real-time data. This strategy aligns with OriGene Seeds’ broader goals: to develop hybrids with superior taste, nutrition, uniformity, shelf-life, and environmental adaptability.
The LaJoya watermelon is a unique, super-sweet, medium-sized variety known for its deep-red flesh and round shape. Weighing between 5-6 kg, it fits easily into a standard home refrigerator, making it convenient for families. This watermelon is versatile, thriving in both open fields and net greenhouses, and is especially robust, performing well even with limited irrigation. Notably, LaJoya is Brazil’s market-leading seedless watermelon, primarily grown for export to Western Europe, where its rich flavor and sweetness have earned it the nickname “the desert jewel.

LaJoya | OriGene seeds All rights reserved ©

Another product designed to fit this trend is the Paradigm watermelon, developed under the leadership of Dr. Eyal Vardi and the watermelon team, which is a medium-sized variety created by OriGene Seeds. This project, which took over a decade to complete, like watermelon Essence, aimed to produce a watermelon that retains the resilience of wild varieties—plants that thrive under challenging conditions and require minimal irrigation. However, wild plants often exhibit characteristics unsuitable for consumer markets, such as a bitter taste and high buoyancy.

Paradigm | OriGene seeds All rights reserved ©

Through extensive research and selective breeding, OriGene Seeds developed PARADIGM to resemble a cultivated watermelon in appearance, with a sweet flavor profile . The variety is specifically designed for high-yield performance, even under restricted irrigation, about 30% less than what comparable varieties typically need—without compromising fruit quality.
Additionally, it offers robust resistance to both biotic (pathogen-related) and abiotic (environmental) stressors, making it a resilient choice for diverse growing conditions. Protected by Plant Breeders Rights and patents, PARADIGM represents a significant advancement in watermelon breeding.

Each of these varieties exemplifies OriGene Seeds‘ commitment to climate-adaptive solutions that benefit farmers, distributors, and ultimately consumers. By focusing on innovation in response to global environmental changes, OriGene Seeds continues to lead in developing resilient watermelon seeds market that support sustainable agriculture worldwide.