Poland: 100 years of Rijk Zwaan- traditionally innovative seed company
Right seed variety is responsible for 30% of the harvest success. Therefore seed companies are of critical importance when thinking about modern horticulture that should feed the world. Rijk Zwaan- Dutch seed producer is celebrating their 100 years of presence on the global market.
In his speech the Ambassador stressed the importance of the seed sector for the world food safety and security. Rijk Zwaan is literally feeding millions of people. The company is able to adapt, to develop to the current challenges and to produce new seeds varieties in a climate friendly way.
‘This company is feeding the world. I’m proud of it’ - said the Ambassador. Ambassador mentioned that
Rijk Zwaan managed to be ‘traditionally innovative’.
Part of the ceremony was the farewell of Mr Przemysław Opioła, first country manager in Poland, who established the Rijk Zwaan branch in Poland. Mr Opioła admitted that he’s proud of the development of the company worldwide and very satisfied with the fact, that he could be the part of the family for 35 years. He stressed the stable condition of the company and the fact that the staff members are working by Rijk Zwaan for 20 years or longer which means that the company offers a good environment for them to develop with the company.
Polish watermelons
During the celebrations it was possible to visit the fields and taste products of Rijk Zwaan. What draw the attention of the guests was a separate field with watermelons ripening on the sun. It is quite new to Poles that those fruits can be grown in the Polish climate. It is also a great example of the climate changes and solutions provided by the company as answer to more sun and longer vegetation period in Poland.
Future of vegetables
During the meeting also a debate about the future of vegetables took place. The participants from Rijk Zwaan, their clients and processors of vegetables were quite positive about the future in this segment. They noticed that more and more people is looking for convenience food. But on the other hand the majority is aware about the need to eat fresh and healthy. Generally speaking consumers like to eat nutritious food therefore also the convenience food offered in supermarkets improved lately in this regard.
There is also a constantly growing segment of ready to eat products that have vegetables replacing chemical ingrediencies like beetroots taking care for an attractive color of the product or white pumpkin replacing banana in smoothies as it lowers the total amount of calories in the product.
Celebrations related 100 anniversary of the company are taking place all over the world. In Poland the ceremony took place on 6th of September at the premises of the company in Witki close to Warsaw.
LAN-team Warsaw