Wedoany.com Report-Apr. 15, Rijk Zwaan, a fruit and vegetable breeding company, opened its new Seed Connect Centre in De Lier, Netherlands, on April 8, 2025. The facility, inaugurated in a ceremony attended by colleagues, construction partners, and Bouke Arends, mayor of Westland, enhances the company’s ability to clean, process, store, and package seeds to meet rising global demand.
Located at Rijk Zwaan’s headquarters in De Lier, the centre expands seed processing and packaging operations while adding office spaces and a versatile meeting area. The existing facility will continue to operate alongside the new centre, ensuring seamless production to support the company’s growing output.
Hubertien Doldersum, Manager Operations, stated: “We work with a very wide range of equipment and processing techniques. This is necessary to process and package the 30 crops and 1,800 varieties in our assortment in such a way that we comply with all laws and regulations, and meet the high quality expectations of our customers.” All seeds produced globally by Rijk Zwaan are processed in De Lier to maintain stringent quality standards before distribution worldwide.
The Seed Connect Centre addresses the increasing need for high-quality vegetable seeds, driven by global market trends. By boosting capacity, Rijk Zwaan ensures it can supply its diverse seed varieties efficiently to customers across various regions, supporting agricultural innovation and food production.
The project incorporated input from the local community, including neighbors, the De Lier Heritage Working Group, Nature Association Central Delfland, and the Delfland Water Board. A new public footpath with historical features was established to replace the previous one, preserving local heritage. To offset the removal of some trees, new ones were planted, and a watercourse was widened from 1.5 to 12 meters, improving drainage in De Lier.
Mayor Bouke Arends remarked: “It’s wonderful news that the ‘Perdiksepad’ will be preserved in a new form. This historic path, which has served as an important connection for centuries, will remain a place where people can walk and enjoy the surroundings. Thanks to the efforts of Rijk Zwaan and the local community, a piece of history will stay alive in a renewed setting.”
The centre also serves as a hub for connection, hosting around 1,000 visitor groups annually, including business partners and students. It features an interactive tour showcasing Rijk Zwaan’s journey from research to sales, fostering collaboration and engagement with global stakeholders.
