RZ-100-wt4-E-flipbook-240702 - Flipbook - Page 154
Research & Development
‘Rijk Zwaan’s R&D train roars on at full speed,’ reads
the jury report of the Hillenraad500+ 2019, when
Rijk Zwaan achieves first place. From 2014 to the
present day, Rijk Zwaan continues to consistently
invest 30 per cent of its revenue in Research &
Development. Rijk Zwaan’s focus here is on the
increasingly important resistance breeding and
the response to new cultivation and harvesting
techniques aimed at reducing the need for
energy and labour in cultivation. In addition,
consumer-oriented research is bearing fruit in the
form of a series of product innovations. Finally, in
the past few years there has been an important
Marco van Leeuwen, besides being
Within days it managed, together with other
trend towards far-reaching robotisation and the
managing director of Rijk Zwaan, is
national and international trade associations such
increasing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
also president of the International
as Euroseeds and Plantum, to secure an exemp-
Seed Federation ISF.
tion for seeds. Seeds are designated as ‘essential
goods’, which means they can be distributed
Product innovations and
expansion of crops
without restrictions.
Rijk Zwaan’s intensive cooperation with the
other links in the food industry is bringing about
multiple retail successes that are helping to
reduce food waste and stimulate vegetable
consumption, important pillars for Rijk Zwaan.
In 2015, Rijk Zwaan comes up with a ground
breaking innovation for lettuce varieties: KNOX.
This KNOX trait reduces leaf discolouration due
to oxidation after cutting and therefore extends
the shelf life of cut lettuce by around two days.
In 2017, KNOX wins the Fruit Logistics Innovation
Award. Rijk Zwaan also continues to focus on
snack vegetables, which is in high demand among
consumers and with which Rijk Zwaan hopes to
boost vegetable consumption. In 2020, Rijk Zwaan
introduces the SN!BS concept, an umbrella brand
for Rijk Zwaan’s complete snack range.
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Rijk Zwaan | Moving forward together
