We are Rijk Zwaan
We are a fruit and vegetable breeding company. Every day, millions of people eat fruit and vegetables grown from our seeds.
Rijk Zwaan at a glance
4,400 employees
in over 30 countries
40% of our colleagues
are employed in R&D
30+ crops
over more than 2,000 fruit and vegetable varieties
Breeding for the vegetables of tomorrow
Rijk Zwaan is a fruit and vegetable breeding company. We develop new fruit and vegetable varieties that contribute to a healthy and sustainable food supply. By selecting and crossing plants with desirable traits, we create new varieties that address the challenges of today and tomorrow.
Our breeding programmes focus on characteristics such as flavour, quality, yield, and resistance to diseases, pests and changing climate conditions. After years of testing and evaluation, a new variety is ready for commercial cultivation.
In this way, we develop fruits and vegetables that meet the needs of growers, supply chain partners and consumers around the world.
Seeds at the start of the food chain
Our breeding activities result in high-quality seeds for the professional agri-food sector. As an independent family-owned company, we are active in more than 100 countries. With more than 30 crops and over 2,000 varieties, we support growers worldwide with a broad portfolio of seeds for a wide range of cultivation systems, from high-tech greenhouses to protected and open-field production.
Our seeds are at the very beginning of the food chain, contributing to the availability of healthy fruits and vegetables.
Continuous innovation
As the challenges facing the food chain continue to evolve, we keep investing in research and development. To develop future-proof varieties, we use modern technologies such as artificial intelligence, digital phenotyping and data-driven breeding. These technologies enable us to select desirable traits more quickly and accurately, helping to advance sustainable horticulture through the more efficient use of natural resources.
Putting people first
It's not all about science and technology. There is something else - something you won’t find under a microscope. At Rijk Zwaan, we believe in putting people first. Family-owned company
Each with their specific focus area, the members of the Rijk Zwaan board of directors (Ben Tax, Marco van Leeuwen and Martijn Eggink) collectively share full responsibility for the organisation as a whole. This joint commitment extends to our shareholders, represented by Anton van Doornmalen, Ben Tax and Michiel Zwaan - who are closely and actively engaged with the company and our company culture. Honorary royal title
On 1 July 2024, during the centenary celebration, Rijk Zwaan received the Dutch honorary royal title ‘Koninklijk’. The King’s Commissioner stated: “After 100 years of entrepreneurship and innovation, one can say that Rijk Zwaan is of great importance for the future of humanity.” We are delighted to receive this title, as it symbolizes societal appreciation and underscores the longevity of our company. This is a recognition of the efforts of everyone involved. Because, above all, people are the heart and soul of Rijk Zwaan. Get to know us
Solutions and varieties
Breeding a new variety takes between 6 and 16 years of research and development work, which is why we constantly think ahead.
News
News overview of Rijk Zwaan including events, stories and knowledge sharing.
Corporate Social Responsibility
At Rijk Zwaan, we believe that responsible entrepreneurship starts with respect – for people, for nature, and for the future.