Seed breeding company Syngenta (location Enkhuizen) has opened an innovation center. An investment worth more than €36 million, that allows seeds to be developed even better and faster.
“We can create the ideal climate here by playing with light, temperature, and humidity. As a result, we can develop seeds up to twice as fast, “Syngenta Enkhuizen’s managing director Peter Acda explains. The CEO, Erik Fyrwald, who flew over from America especially for the opening, adds: “We bring vegetable technology to the world. Better seeds that ensure less food waste. But also help the farmers deal with climate change, insects and diseases.”
“Enkhuizen vegetable technology capital of the world”
Syngenta has locations in ninety countries. Yet Fyrwald sees the logic in the fact that the innovation center is located in Enkhuizen. “We have been in Enkhuizen for 150 years. This is the vegetable technology capital of the world. 650 employees work here and they are the best in the world when it comes to developing and breeding vegetable seeds. ”
“Important that we invest here”
The opening act is carried out by CEO Erik Fyrwald and Secretary-General of the Ministry of Agriculture Nature and Fisheries (LNV), Jan-Kees Goet. “It is important for the ministry that companies such as Syngenta invest in innovation for agriculture. We are on the verge of a transition to sustainable agriculture, “says Goet.