| Our Team
After studying and collecting the plants for more than twenty years, Dr. Diane Ragone of the Breadfruit Institute has more than 120 Breadfruit varieties in her collection housed at the Institute. But the traditional method for cultivating Breadfruit is very slow and inefficient. Additionally, international customs and agricultural regulations make the transportation of conventionally grown plants across national borders extremely difficult. Then in 2004 Dr. Susan Murch, her research colleague at the University of British Columbia, developed a method to propagate young Breadfruit plants using a special method of in-vitro tissue culture. This is the method plant companies use to quickly and affordably produce millions of identical annuals, perennials, and trees. In 2008, the Breadfruit Institute asked Cultivaris, the parent company of Global Breadfruit, to develop a method of commercial distribution that would enable global distribution of the plants, but in a way that would substantially improve the success rate of past efforts. The management put together a team and after extensive research, developed a system of shipping healthy, vigorous young plants that will grow quickly and easily into a productive tree. |
| Dr. Susan Murch Dr. Murch is a professor of Chemistry and Earth & Environmental Sciences at the Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences, University of British Columbia Okanagan. She holds a PhD from Guelph University, and is a Canada Research Chair. Among Dr. Murch’s current research programs is aseptic culture of Breadfruit for long-term conservation and as the source of disease-free plant material. She is also evaluating the NTBG Breadfruit collection for nutrient composition and nutritional quality, and for genetic characteristics such as tolerance to saline soils. Dr. Susan Murch at the University of British Columbia Okanagan has developed a novel, commercially viable method of mass propagation for Breadfruit. Susan.murch@ubc.caDepartments of Chemistry, Earth & Environmental Sciences University of British Columbia Okanagan 3333 University Way Kelowna, British Columbia CANADA V1V 1V7 Office: Science 162 O: +1 250 807 9566 F: +1 250 807 8005 |
 |
| Dr. Diane Ragone Dr. Ragone, who has a PhD from the University of Hawaii, is an authority on the conservation and use of Breadfruit. For the past twenty years, she has conducted horticultural and ethnobotanical studies throughout Micronesia, Polynesia, and Melanesia. Her extensive fieldwork enabled the NTBG to establish the world's largest collection of Breadfruit at its Kahanu Garden in Hana, Maui. In 2002, the NTBG appointed Ragone director of its newly-created Breadfruit Institute. Dr. Diane Ragone of the Breadfruit Institute at the National Tropical Botanical Garden has collected over 120 breadfruit varieties over the past 20 years. breadfruitinstitute@ntbg.orgBreadfruit Institute National Tropical Botanical Garden 3530 Papalina Road Kalaheo, HI 96741 USA O: +1 808 332 7324 x224 F: +1 808 332 9765 |
 |
| Dr. Axel Feldhoff Phytopathologist Axel Feldhoff earned his PhD in Biology from the University of Mainz where he specialized in plant virology. He manages more than 2,500 varieties as elite stock in Germany. Dr. Feldhoff also coordinates mass production in tissue culture labs across Europe and Central America. As a partner in Global Breadfruit he is responsible for pathogen indexing and the coordination of mass propagation of Artocarpus. axel@globalbreadfruit.com Rentengasse 3 D-55116 Mainz Germany O: +49 6131 227177 F: +49 6131 227188 M: +49 173 6679885 |
 |
| Garry Grueber A graduate of Germany’s Geisenheim University with a degree in horticulture, Grueber was with the Kientzler group of companies for two decades, dealing with product development, plant breeding, IP management, PR/marketing and international relations. During this time, he co-founded InnovaPlant and InnovaPlant de Costa Rica, as well as setting the foundation for the international Proven Winners network. His experience in IP management and resource networking, plus experience in tropical horticulture benefit the practical implementation of the Global Breadfruit project. garry@globalbreadfruit.com Rentengasse 3 D-55116 Mainz Germany O: +49 6131 227177 F: +49 6131 227188 M: +49 162 4175 370 |
 |
| Josh Schneider With an infectious enthusiasm for plants and a passion for far-reaching new ideas, Josh is a force to be reckoned with. His work with the Breadfruit Institute over the past several years has paved the way for the collaboration between the NTBG and Cultivaris via Global Breadfruit. Josh formerly ran the sales, marketing and product development departments of one of the largest greenhouse operations in the US. He works with plant breeders to develop new and improved crops and bring those plants to market globally. josh@globalbreadfruit.com 1782 Titus Street San Diego, CA 92110 USA O: +1 760 695 1398 F: +1 760 695 1399 M: +1 760 802 0542 |
 |