Rijk Zwaan ensures ongoing innovation for courgette growers

Added on 28 June 2023

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Rijk Zwaan ensures ongoing innovation for courgette growers

Although Rijk Zwaan has only had courgette varieties in its assortment since 2017, the vegetable breeding company regards it as an important crop. In line with its clear ambition to launch courgette varieties with added value for growers, the company introduced varieties with New Delhi resistance in 2021, much to the relief of producers in southern Europe. ″Our mission is to innovate,″ says Alessandro Silvestrelli, Rijk Zwaan’s Crop Manager Courgette. Here, he and his colleague Gabriele Lippi, Crop Coordinator, provide a glimpse of which other innovations growers can expect.

A versatile crop in all respects

Courgette – also known around the world as squash or zucchini – is one of the top five vegetable crops. This versatile and multicoloured vegetable is cultivated across the globe, whether outdoors, in tunnels or in greenhouses. Courgettes are produced for both local consumption and as an export product. Its versatility extends to how it is prepared and used; the courgette can be cooked and eaten in all manner of ways, and is suitable for frying, stuffing, barbecuing or being turned into soup or even low-carb spaghetti. ″Such an important vegetable simply has to be part of our range, so it was only logical that we decided to invest in developing our own varieties around a decade ago,″ says Silvestrelli.

Adding value throughout the chain

The company has set the bar high for itself, according to his colleague Gabriele Lippi, Crop Coordinator. ″Although we only entered this market a few years ago, our ambition is to introduce agronomically strong varieties with new traits. After all, innovation is in our DNA. It’s about including traits that create value throughout the chain, such as labour-friendliness, a longer shelf life and a total package of resistances so that growers can use fewer crop protection agents. Another focus is on varieties that can cope with climate change. Everything revolves around helping courgette growers to improve their profitability.″