The Dutch breeding company invests 30 per cent of its annual turnover in R&D, focusing on biotechnology, genomics and disease resistance
Fruit and vegetable breeding company Rijk Zwaan has secured 12th place in this year’s R&D Top 50, an annual ranking of Dutch companies based on investment in research and development.
The list, compiled by TNO and VNO-NCW, emphasises the importance of R&D for achieving economic growth, driving technological progress and tackling social challenges such as the energy transition and digital transformation.
The official presentation of the R&D Top 50 was held on 2 December.
During the ceremony, Rijk Zwaan board member Ben Tax participated in a panel discussion on the role of innovation in strengthening the Dutch economy.
“In the food sector, continuous innovation is not only of huge economic importance, but also has a societal purpose,” he outlined.
”After all, we are continuously working on further strengthening the foundation of the worldwide food supply.
”It’s great to see so many other breeding companies and agri-food businesses in this R&D Top 50 list,” Tax noted.
His comments underlined the importance of continued investment in research and public/private-sector collaboration to strengthen the industry’s future.
Rijk Zwaan said its R&D activities are focused on key areas including biotechnology, phytopathology, seed technology and (genomic) breeding.
”We use DNA marker technology and genomic selection to improve the predictability of crossing and selection, enabling our breeders to make data-driven decisions faster,” the group stated.
”Meanwhile, machine learning gives us a better understanding of protein interactions in plants.
”As a result, we can recognise patterns, predict which proteins could work together to provide resistances against pests and diseases, and gain insights into how plants respond to stress factors such as drought,” it said.
“Thanks to this knowledge, we are able to accelerate the development process and shorten the time to market for new varieties.”
Rijk Zwaan invests 30 per cent of its annual turnover back into research and development, it confirmed.
”This enables us to develop varieties with resilience: less susceptible to plant diseases, less dependent on chemical crop protection agents, and better able to cope with extreme heat or drought.
”Moreover, our varieties are aligned with local cultivation methods, food traditions and consumer preferences, the group commented.
“This is how our seeds contribute to both food security and future-proof food production.”
Other companies on the R&D Top 50 list include Enza Zaden, Bakker Brothers and Keygene.
