News

Bejo and Rijk Zwaan have signed an agreement for the exchange of non-exclusive licenses for patented traits in vegetables. This exchange will enable the two vegetable breeding companies to strengthen their innovative capacities and introduce improved varieties more quickly.

Vegetable breeding company Rijk Zwaan has introduced its first hybrid varieties for African eggplant. These varieties have numerous advantages over those traditionally grown in Africa and will enable farmers to generate a better income for themselves. Rijk Zwaan spent almost 10 years working on the development of these varieties and is now selling the first seeds on a commercial basis.

Vegetable breeding company Rijk Zwaan is establishing a permanent "experience centre'' in Berlin to inform and inspire its international retail partners. The new Retail Centre will be one of Rijk Zwaan's two chosen themes during the upcoming Fruit Logistica. The others will be Knox™, a trait that delays pinking in fresh cut lettuce and that has been officially nominated for the Fruit Logistica Innovation Award 2017.

Seed company Rijk Zwaan Australia and industry body AUSVEG begin a collaboration to further improve the development of market oriented varieties for Australian vegetable growers.  The partnership agreement was officially signed today by representatives of Rijk Zwaan and AUSVEG in the presence of Their Majesties King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of The Netherlands, with Mr Henk Kamp, Minister of Economic Affairs representing a trade mission from the Netherlands.

Rijk Zwaan’s Western Australia Leaf Crop Field Day took place on 27th October in Carabooda, presenting an opportunity for growers to view recent developments in Rijk Zwaan’s breeding such as the Knox™ lettuce varieties, and introductions selected specifically for the tough conditions in Western Australia.

Vegetable breeding company Rijk Zwaan has embarked on an extensive new-build project at its Eerste Kruisweg site in Fijnaart. Former director Anton van Doornmalen drove the first stake into the ground.

Morris the melon was one of the star attractions at this year’s Summer Fruit Festival, entertaining the crowd at Sydney's Darling Harbour with a "melontastic" show aimed at sharing fun and knowledge about melons.

Rijk Zwaan Zaadteelt en Zaadhandel generated 388 million euros in net sales in the 2015/2016 financial year, representing a 14% increase on the previous financial year. Rijk Zwaan continues to pursue a strategy of autonomous growth. This enables the family-owned company from the Dutch town of De Lier to compete with listed multinationals while also offering its employees an enjoyable and long-term job.

On Monday 17 October 2016, vegetable breeding company Rijk Zwaan from the Dutch town of De Lier drove the first stake into the ground for its new testing and research facility called the Seed Quality Center (SQC). The new building is being constructed at a site on Zijtwende in De Lier, approximately 500 metres from the Rijk Zwaan headquarters.

Rijk Zwaan is holding this year’s demo days in Fijnaart, the Netherlands, from 19 September to 28 October. This six-week period allows Rijk Zwaan to optimally advise all visitors and give each of them a personalised guided tour. In the demo field visitors will see a large number of new introductions in various open-field vegetable crops, including the innovative lettuce trait called Knox™ and early celery varieties.