Morocco’s SweetCott mandarin secures EU plant variety rights until 2056
The variety is intended for the premium citrus segment and provides retailers with a differentiated mandarin option.
MOROCCO – Moroccan citrus breeder Les Domaines has secured a definitive Community Plant Variety Right for SweetCott, a new late-maturing mandarin, from the Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO), with protection valid until 31 December 2056.
The granting of the right on September 7, 2026, marks a step forward for Moroccan citrus research and innovation, according to NCP (NadorCott Protection), the entity that manages both SweetCott and the established Nadorcott variety.
The decision follows Distinctness, Uniformity, and Stability (DUS) examinations conducted over several complete growing cycles by the UETIV (Technical Examination Unit for Variety Identification), which is attached to the IVIA (Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias) in Valencia, Spain.
In addition, the UETIV’s conclusions confirm the variety’s stable expression of its Distinctness, Uniformity, and Stability characteristics, according to the CPVO.
More than three decades after the launch of Nadorcott, Morocco continues its citrus breeding work with SweetCott, specifically in the late “easy-peeler” segment.
The variety is designed to meet the requirements of international markets and current climate challenges, combining several agronomic and commercial characteristics.
For instance, a balanced sugar-to-acid ratio, good holding ability on the tree, and virtually seedless fruit, even under manual self- and cross-pollination. The UETIV protocol confirmed the phenotypic uniformity of the fruit.
Moreover, the variety also has characteristics suited to international retail, including shelf life, suitability for long-distance transport, and extended cold-room storage. According to NCP, SweetCott has a Brix level of up to 16° and a juice content of up to 60%.
SweetCott complements the range alongside Nadorcott, with an even later maturity that extends the mandarin season and offers larger fruit and a different taste profile.
As a result, the variety is intended for the premium citrus segment and provides retailers with a differentiated mandarin option.
The definitive protection certificate granted by the CPVO to NCP, together with protection titles previously issued by the competent authorities of almost all growing countries and commercial markets, provides a legal framework for the international development and licensing strategy.
Finally, this enables a strategic international rollout, ensuring Moroccan citrus remains a leader in the premium “easy-peeler” market while addressing climate change and evolving international consumer preferences.
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