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Seed Valley
Welcome to Seed Valley
Want to witness groundbreaking green life sciences and technology? Meet the companies in Seed Valley, the global epicenter of green genetics.
You may not be aware but the tomato, lettuce or broccoli that you eat today, is genetically not the same as 5 years ago. Continuous R&D is needed to prevent that crop harvests fall prey to rapidly mutating pathogens. With a growing world population that consumes ever more calories per capita, we need to work towards sustainable food supplies. Scientists and seed companies are aiming to at least double yields per hectare and to increase the efficiency of water use. Important themes that will determine the future of R&D in the agro and food industry.
Seed Valley - the region between Enkhuizen and Alkmaar in the Northwest of the Netherlands - is a global epicenter of applied green life sciences and a challenging international work field. It is the home base of a dynamic, very successful business sector with a clear high-tech character. The region is home to dozens of specialized companies, providing growers all over the world with high-quality seeds. The industry invests a great deal in research and development: on average, around 15 to 25 per cent of the turnover. The Seed Valley cluster has a collective headcount of 3.500 employees in the Netherland.
The seed industry is multidisciplinary and versatile by nature. The development of new varieties and improved seed quality requires a thorough knowledge of genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, plant diseases and physiology, cell biology and tissue culture, bioinformatics and computer science. Although breeding still revolves around the classical principles of genetics and the selection of the desired phenotype, the introduction of molecular techniques and the application of seed technology has brought about a great improvement in efficiency.
The combination of a healthy domestic market, entrepreneurship and a steady influx of well-trained people allowed the Dutch seed companies to conquer the world. Seed companies serve the world market in a tailored fashion from various branches, situated in all climate zones and continents. Seed Valley offers numerous challenges to ambitious professionals keen to push back their frontiers. There is a strong demand for highly educated specialists. Their contribution is necessary to consolidate the strong growth, to expand breeding and research programmes and to tackle new developments effectively.
