Organisation

The organisation of an international vegetable seeds company is fairly complex. In order to breed, produce and sell seed internationally, a great deal of diversity in expertise, skills and knowledge of regional conditions is required. All disciplines are concerned with vegetable seeds, which are a living product. So nothing can be taken for granted and any planning has to allow for a certain degree of flexibility. In addition to this, the customer demands, and rightly so, that Rijk Zwaan honours its promises: to supply a certain quantity of top-quality seed of a specific variety by a certain date at the latest.



Flat and flexible
In order to be able to enjoy working successfully in this highly-charged environment we, at Rijk Zwaan, feel that a flat, flexible organisation is necessary. An organisation which offers scope for the views, involvement and responsibility of its employees, departments and subsidiaries.

Focus on specific local market conditions
This is partly why Rijk Zwaan has opted for localy operating subsidiaries in the various countries. The subsidiaries have the commercial task of selling seed and providing a service to the customer with a strong focus on the specific local market conditions. They are in the unique position of being able to meet the regional wishes of the customer. They are also able to give the breeders feedback on market and product experiences.

Rijk Zwaan
Location	Activity
General management De Lier, the Netherlands	Management and staff, finance, personnel, communications, information & computerisation, utilities & facilities, international projects and coordination
Research De Lier and Fijnaart, the Netherlands KeyGene, Wageningen, the Netherlands	Molecular biology, biochemistry, cell biology, phytopathology and seed technology
Breeding Australia, China, France, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Turkey	Development of new varieties
Seed production Australia, Chilli, China, Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Taiwan, Tanzania and USA	Selecting and running production fields, growing crops (traditional and organic), harvesting seed and organising its transport to De Lier, the Netherlands
Seed cleaning, quality care and processing De Lier, the Netherlands	Arrival of seed, drying, cleaning, graduating, quality control, pelleting, coating, priming, storage; packing seed in bulk or small quantities, despatch
Marketing Support De Lier, the Netherlands	Logistics, marketing
Sales by subsidiaries Rijk Zwaan Nederland Rijk Zwaan Export Rijk Zwaan Hollandia, Belgium Rijk Zwaan Welver, Germany Rijk Zwaan Budapest, Hungary Rijk Zwaan Polska, Poland Rijk Zwaan Ukraine Rijk Zwaan Rossija, Russia Rijk Zwaan UK Rijk Zwaan France Rijk Zwaan Italy Rijk Zwaan Iberica, Spain Rijk Zwaan Produtos Agric., Portugal Rito Tohumculuk A.S., Turkey Rijk Zwaan USA Rijk Zwaan Argentina Rijk Zwaan Australia Rijk Zwaan Qingdao, China	Practical variety trials, introduction of varieties, sales of varieties, business relations management, crop advising and crop guidance, services, communications and promotions