Plant breeding specialist Rijk Zwaan has announced that it has officially opened a new production location in Mexico, Rijk Zwaan Promex, offering what it describes as perfect conditions for year-round seed harvesting.
The purpose-built seed-producing nursery, which is located at an altitude of 2,050m in San Jose Inturbide, Guanajuato, has been introduced to help the Dutch group through a period of continuous growth.
'This is the ideal location for us to grow seeds, in particular for tomato and peppers, for several reasons; the high light intensity and the temperate climate allows us to produce all year round, allowing us a high level of flexibility to respond to changing levels of market demand, for example,' said production expert and project manager Frans van de Sande.
'Other significant benefits of this area include the excellent infrastructure, the availability of gas and the isolated location,' he added. 'The current production area comprises 3ha, but we have the option to expand this in the future, as necessary.'
Constructed as a turn-key project in collaboration with Dutch greenhouse-building company Van der Hoeven, the location comprises a modern glasshouse nursery, an extraction area, two boilers, a reservoir to collect heat, and a storage room for seeds.
According to Rijk Zwaan, the intention is that all seeds produced at De Vesting and Rijk Zwaan Promex will be certified according to GSPP, the latest hygiene protocol for tomatoes.
