Rijk Zwaan opens Seed Quality Center

Dutch-based vegetable breeding company Rijk Zwaan officially opened a new location in De Lier, the Netherlands on May 18. This new Seed Quality Center (SQC) creates more room for growth and the application of new testing and research techniques related to seed quality.

The brand new facility consists of a laboratory building, a unit with climate-controlled cells and a greenhouse. “All activities in the SQC are focused on quality control”, explains Hans Linder, Manager Quality at Rijk Zwaan. “All Rijk Zwaan seeds need to meet high quality standards. The departments that play a role in quality control will all be located in the SQC. The department for seed health, for example, checks whether seeds are free from diseases, and the molecular biology department assesses the authenticity of commercial varieties based on DNA.” Thanks to this new location, Rijk Zwaan increases its capacity for growth, modernization and the application of new technology.