Summit brought together lettuce producers and value chain experts to explore how collaboration and innovation can secure the category’s future
Vegetable seed specialist Rijk Zwaan hosted its first European Salad Summit on 14-15 October 2026, bringing together open-field lettuce producers and category experts to discuss challenges and opportunities.
According to the group, the summit saw participants sharing knowledge and working together to secure a strong lettuce value chain.
Rijk Zwaan pointed out that, across Europe, open-field lettuce cultivation is “changing rapidly”, with more ambitious sustainability goals, tighter regulations, increasing pressure from pests such as aphids and growing labour shortages calling for future-focused innovations.
“We have to do more with less,” said Wim Grootscholten, crop manager lettuce at Rijk Zwaan. “The chessboard on which we play today is becoming smaller and more complicated each year.
”At Rijk Zwaan, we share the ambition to keep delivering healthy lettuce for consumers, today and in the future.
”Keeping up with current developments in lettuce production requires collaboration throughout the value chain,” he explained.
”This summit provided broad insights into topics beyond our daily work, inspiring new solutions and collaborations.”
Throughout the summit, participants explored a range of themes that offer opportunities for a stronger, more resilient lettuce value chain.
Discussions covered topics such as organic and regenerative farming, soil optimisation, crop protection with beneficial insects, innovative fresh cut processes and emerging technologies including robotics and automation.
The group highlighted how it contributes to innovation through the development of resistant lettuce varieties, including varieties resistant against the lettuce aphid Nasonovia ribisnigri.
However, the company recognised that progress depends on multidisciplinary collaboration.
“More than ever, solutions will have to come from many areas of expertise,” outlined Grootscholten.
“That’s why this summit is about sharing insights and strengthening connections.”
The second day of the summit centred around an interactive Summit Solution Session, dedicated to the question: ‘How can we secure a healthy and sustainable lettuce value chain in the future?’
In his concluding remarks, moderator Jean-Paul Judson highlighted the value of collaboration, emphasising the importance of a strong network, knowledge sharing and a commitment to collectively contributing to a resilient lettuce value chain.
