Dutch vegetable seed company Rijk Zwaan hosted its fourth Salanova Days event in Welver, Germany last week, bringing together a number of international partners involved in developing, producing and marketing the lettuce.
The event, which took place on 17-18 September, saw a series of lectures, demonstrations and a workshop, with participants sharing the latest information on cultivation, processing and sales.
'Because prices for leaf crops have been under pressure in many countries, our partners are looking for innovation in every conceivable way,' said Rijk Zwaan's convenience manager Bauke van Lenteren. 'This is done not only by introducing new varieties, but also more efficient cultivation techniques and effective marketing strategies.'
Ms Van Lenteren noted that Salanova had already set a standard in the convenience sectors of countries such as Australia and the United States, with further small, innovative projects set to take place in other parts of the world.
'These projects provide experience that may lead to profit boosts or savings in expenses,' she added. 'The exchange of gained knowledge will give Salanova even more room to grow.'
Participants at the event said that they felt Salanova had a bright future, with 65 per cent indicating that they saw Salanova becoming a staple convenience product within the next 10 years.
