Seed Testing Netherlands
Test fields in Seed Valley, Netherlands
We were thrilled to discover that our Amsterdam trip timing aligned with Enza Zaden’s Field Days. One of the oldest and largest seed breeders in the world, Enza Zaden opens its test fields to growers and researchers once a year to showcase their evolving varieties and educate how they’re working to breed climate, pest, and disease resilience into food crops.
We drove through the lush Seed Valley just north of Amsterdam, on a crisp morning to walk neat rows of lettuces, radishes, and other veggies with the incredibly knowledgeable Fokke Hoeksma. The ground was soft, and the canals that shaped the perimeter were full of clean, flowing water. “There is too much water here,” we’re assured; such a change after spending so much time in drought-affected areas of the American West and Europe.
It takes 7-10 years to develop a new seed variety. The goals of climate, pest, and disease resilience are moving targets, and the usable time frame for seeds is getting shorter and shorter because global environmental conditions are changing rapidly. Enza Zaden’s focus this year was showcasing Bremia resistance, a fungal disease found in lettuces. However, each region has their own climate, pest, and disease pressures, and Enza Zaden has research outposts scattered across the globe to conduct location-specific work.
Cloudseed Inc. believes CropRank Technology can augment the work of seed breeders, identifying new markets for existing seed varieties as regional microclimates evolve. Extending the life, reach, and efficacy of seeds by matching optimally-adapted varieties for global growers’ unique locations.