Zeraim Gedera, one of Israel's leading seed companies, will invest €4 million to set up an R&D centre in Spain.

The new centre comprising of of greenhouses and laboratories will be built on 12.4 acres, and will mainly raise new crop varieties for the development of new seeds.

A Zeraim Gedera statement said: "The greenhouses will serve as a laboratory for developing higher quality varieties and seeds of crops with longer shelf life and greater resistance to pests and diseases prevalent in Europe, and are developed to meet the taste preferences of consumers in Europe.”

Zeraim Gedera posted US$7m in sales in Spain in 2004, and plans to reach US$11m in 2005. The company’s ceo Ohad Zuckerman said that the Spanish centre "will bring the company closer to the European market and improve its ability to meet consumers' requirements for high quality rated fresh produce."

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