Rijk Zwaan’s new Trial Centre Open Field in the Netherlands, is now officially open. This state-of-the-art facility will enable the fruit and vegetable breeding company to further strengthen both its practical research and its presentation of open-field varieties to customers and value chain partners from around the world.

Professionals from across the melon and watermelon value chain will once again gather at our Experimentation and Development Centre (CED) La Palma in Cartagena, Spain, for the Global Melon & Watermelon Event. The event will include a local week from 22 to 26 June and an international week from 30 June to 2 July.

At the Global Melon & Watermelon Event in Spain, Rijk Zwaan is presenting two new Galuna™ melon varieties that are also resistant against races 6 and 7 of Podosphaera xanthii (Px). These are exciting times for Breeder Alba Garcia Martinez and her team, who have been intensively involved with the varieties over the past years: “We are very eager to hear growers’ reactions. I believe we have succeeded in selecting Galia melon varieties that combine resistance against powdery mildew with vigour while also meeting our high Galuna standards for taste and quality.” In this Q&A, she answers five questions about the journey so far and the path ahead.

Members of the brassica family are known for their versatility and nutritional value. With the #embracebrassicas campaign, we’re adding 'element of surprise' to that list. “This world-class crop deserves a place in the spotlight. Together with our chain managers and partners, we will inspire consumers with innovations such as rosé cabbage,” says Christian Spangenberg, Crop Co-ordinator at Rijk Zwaan.

‘Organic connects’ was the theme of the recent edition of Biobeurs, and the event certainly proved that in practice. Around 5,600 visitors from across the entire supply chain – from farm to fork – gathered in Apeldoorn for the Netherlands’ organic trade fair in mid-April. One highlight was the launch of the BioAcademy’s Retail learning module, which includes a significant contribution by Rijk Zwaan. “Deeper knowledge of organic vegetables in the retail sector can help our industry move forward,” says Heleen Bos, Specialist Marketing Organics.

As greenhouse projects worldwide continue to scale up, growers and investors are increasingly looking for reliable partners who help them reduce risk and make confident decisions. During GreenTech Amsterdam 2026 and its High Tech Weeks, fruit and vegetable breeding company Rijk Zwaan demonstrates how care, collaboration and data‑driven insights come together to build robust greenhouse business cases.

Greenhouse cultivation is on the rise worldwide. Growers are expanding internationally and new investors are entering the market. At GreenTech, Rijk Zwaan will demonstrate how the company helps partners to build strong business cases. Damion Schwarzkachel: “We use data to select genetics that increase efficiency, improve predictability and reduce labour dependency.”

Around the world, partly due to fluctuating energy prices and climate policies, there is growing interest in carbon-neutral vegetable cultivation. Investors and growers are keen to reduce their carbon footprint without compromising on yields or quality. Rijk Zwaan supports this transition with cultivation methods and varieties suited to energy-efficient greenhouse projects. During GreenTech Amsterdam and Rijk Zwaan’s High Tech Weeks, the fruit and vegetable breeding company will be demonstrating how this works in practice.

Consumers are increasingly choosing healthy, convenient and sustainably grown vegetables. Retailers are looking for unique concepts and consistent quality. How can growers and investors in the greenhouse sector capitalise on these trends? “At Rijk Zwaan, we share consumer trends and value-chain insights with our partners. These insights help investors reduce risk and build reliable business cases by aligning crop choices with market demand and pricing,” says Shuang Fan.