Development projects Rijk Zwaan
Since 1999 the Rijk Zwaan Committee for Development Cooperation (COS) has been involved in development work, with a focus on sharing our knowledge about vegetable production.
We work together with local organisations to offer technical advice, share knowledge and provide support to farmers and growers in developing countries. Our aim is to stimulate vegetable consumption within families and to help farmers and growers to improve their income position. We are currently supporting projects in Peru, Guatemala, Haiti, Albania and Gambia.
The projects are partly funded by the Rijk Zwaan board. Employees provide financial support too; once every two years, the money that would have been spent on the traditional Christmas gifts for all workers is donated to a good cause instead.
The COS committee is made up of Rijk Zwaan employees and two external advisors. They are directly involved in the projects so that they can monitor and evaluate the results with their own eyes.
Some of our projects
Cooking together for a healthy future in Ghana
At Rijk Zwaan, we believe in sharing more than seeds. Through our Development Cooperation Committee (COS), we work with local partners in Ghana to encourage vegetable consumption and teach young growers how to work with modern techniques.
Fresh vegetables at high altitude
The Kusimayo Foundation offers help to the local population in some of Peru’s poorest areas, such as by building heated accommodation and setting up small-scale greenhouses. It also fosters knowledge sharing about healthy eating and hygiene. Vegetable breeding company Rijk Zwaan has been supporting Kusimayo since 2017.
Horticultural knowledge centre in Guatemala
Utz Samaj, a FUDI programme, is aimed at stimulating small businesses and above all young people to grow vegetables professionally. Rijk Zwaan has been supporting Utz Samaj for more than 15 years. COS supplies the college with seeds for use in the greenhouses, and our employees from Guatemala teach classes there.