News

With innovation at the heart of the event, Rijk Zwaan was proud to receive the Boomaroo Nurseries award for innovation and productivity.

With effect from May 1 2017 the International Bremia Evaluation Board (IBEB) has officially named a new official strain of Bremia lactucae (Downy Mildew). A large proportion of Rijk Zwaan’s lettuce range is resistant to this strain.

Today Rijk Zwaan officially opened its Retail Center in Berlin, Germany. The Retail Center is Rijk Zwaan’s latest step in further improving its service to retailers and identifying the right priorities for the company’s breeding programmes.

On Friday 10 February 2017, the Fruit Logistica Innovation Award was presented for the eleventh time. Over 70,000 visitors to the trade fair were invited to vote for their favourite out of the ten nominees, and Rijk Zwaan is extremely honoured and proud to announce that Knox™ emerged as the winner.

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.