Inauguration of the Rijk Zwaan Vietnam research and development center

The Journey of a Century

At Don Duong District (Lam Dong), Rijk Zwaan Vietnam recently celebrated the 100th anniversary of the establishment of Rijk Zwaan and the inauguration of the Rijk Zwaan Vietnam Research and Development Center.

From a modest seed shop in the city of Rotterdam (Netherlands) in 1924, Rijk Zwaan has gradually developed and grown to become one of the world's leading companies in plant breeding, with nearly 4,000 employees in more than 30 countries.

Throughout its 100-year history, Rijk Zwaan has become the fourth-largest vegetable and fruit seed breeder in the world, providing more than 1,800 varieties to growers in over 100 countries.

Every year, Rijk Zwaan invests 30% of its revenue (approximately 150 million Euros) back into research and development. This significant contribution helps enhance the sustainability of agricultural production by developing local varieties and improving yields.

Not only does Rijk Zwaan provide high-quality seeds, but the company is also dedicated to transferring technology and providing technical training to farmers, ensuring the sustainability and efficiency of agricultural activities.

Mr. Dang Van Nien, General Director of Rijk Zwaan Vietnam, shared that Rijk Zwaan continuously strives to develop superior plant varieties that bring sustainable value to the entire agricultural supply chain. By applying advanced technology in the breeding process, Rijk Zwaan is committed to providing high-quality products that meet the increasingly diverse demands of the market.

“We constantly explore, innovate, and develop new plant varieties, new markets, and new collaboration opportunities. Every seed, regardless of where it is produced in the world, undergoes strict quality control in the Netherlands before reaching customers,” Mr. Nien stated.

Mr. Nien further mentioned that in its development journey in Vietnam and Southeast Asia, Rijk Zwaan was the first to lead the transformation of agriculture from traditional farming to high-tech farming by sharing its expertise and innovations. This has significantly benefited many growers.

“Rijk Zwaan has also successfully introduced the Sweet Palermo pepper and glasshouse lettuce varieties, which are considered new and innovative products in the market. We are creating new eating habits, using vegetables and fruits as snacks for consumers with snack peppers and cherry tomatoes,” Mr. Nien added.

Mr. Chu Viet Ha, Director of Wineco Company (a subsidiary of Masan Group), shared that Wineco and Rijk Zwaan have collaborated extensively in both commercial farming and trialing new varieties. In addition, Rijk Zwaan has provided significant technical support to Wineco through a technical cooperation program, which has helped Wineco increase yields compared to previous varieties, with some varieties seeing increases of up to 30%.

Building a high-tech research center

To develop from traditional agriculture to high-tech agriculture in Vietnam, research and development are essential foundations for testing new varieties and technologies before they are widely introduced to farmers. Therefore, Rijk Zwaan's establishment of the Research and Development Center in Vietnam makes a significant contribution to this development process.

The center, built on a total area of 4 hectares in Don Duong District (Lam Dong), focuses on over 1,000 different varieties, including key crops such as lettuce, bell peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, and melons.

The technologies being researched include varieties and cultivation techniques in high-tech greenhouses, using substrates and hydroponics; varieties and cultivation techniques in net houses; and the effectiveness of outdoor crop production during challenging seasons.

Rijk Zwaan aims to elevate vegetable production technology in Vietnam in general and Lam Dong in particular. Additionally, the company focuses on breeding new and unique high-value varieties for Vietnam to compete with premium imported products and for export to other Southeast Asian countries.

Mr. Dang Van Nien shared that Rijk Zwaan has been working alongside Lam Dong Province and farmers nationwide, from production planning to seed selection and market orientation. This helps farmers access new varieties and technologies to achieve the highest economic efficiency in their greenhouse spaces.

Mr. Rens Knieriem, Rijk Zwaan's Asia Business Director, stated that Rijk Zwaan can help agriculture in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, transition from traditional to high-tech farming by sharing expertise gathered from many countries worldwide.

“We hope to elevate Vietnamese farmers to a new level, so they can have better expertise, meet domestic consumption demands, and potentially export to other countries,” said Mr. Rens Knieriem.

Mr. Pham S, Vice Chairman of the Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee, noted that the province currently has over 4,500 hectares of greenhouses, but the proportion of greenhouses that meet standards similar to those in the Netherlands is less than 2%. Therefore, to implement the relocation and gradual transfer of greenhouses from urban areas to the suburbs, it is necessary to select and gradually upgrade the actual greenhouses to ensure they meet standards.

Additionally, research into outdoor crops that do not require greenhouses should be conducted to establish a roadmap for harmonious development, ensuring ecological sustainability and urban landscape while advancing high-tech agriculture.

In the process of development and international integration, Lam Dong Province has organized investment promotion seminars. As part of this effort, several Dutch companies have come to Lam Dong to survey the land and climate and have chosen to establish agricultural projects.

“Through these agricultural projects, the province has gained advanced techniques for high-tech agricultural production, providing modern greenhouse equipment and high-tech techniques suitable for Lam Dong's conditions. Notably, Lam Dong has organized the production of F1 vegetable seeds to supply high-quality vegetables for domestic consumption and export,” said Mr. Pham S.

Recent new products and technologies developed by Rijk Zwaan include the hydroponic glasshouse lettuce technique, which has achieved economic returns of up to 1 billion VND per 1,000 square meters per year; special pepper varieties such as Sweet Palermo and snack peppers; high-quality cherry tomatoes; as well as bell peppers, mini cucumbers, baby cucumbers, and Japanese cucumbers.