Click here for the photo report.
The station covers around 3 hectares with eight greenhouses (2,000 square metres each), 2,000 square metres dedicated to polytunnel melon screening, 3,000 square metres for open field crops, a nursery garden and various laboratories. 80% of the facility is dedicated to tomatoes, although research will also be conducted on melons, peppers, aubergines and courgettes.
Enza Zaden wanted to gather together all its employees, technicians and sales representatives to celebrate a new beginning.
The station has been operative since 2013 and some of the new tomato varieties were born here. Research focuses on "small size" varieties (cherry and plum tomatoes) as well as beefsteak and Marmande. What is most interesting is the fact that, for once, the varieties studied in Italy are being considered for crops around the Mediterranean, especially Morocco and Spain.
Click here for the photo report.
Giamplacido Di Rosa with Emiliano Settinieri in front of tomato trials.
During a visit to the greenhouses, tomato breeder Giamplacido Di Rosa explained how resistances are a priority, also thanks to the support of Dutch breeders.
Click here for the photo report.
Giamplacido Di Rosa with Emiliano Settinieri in front of tomato trials.
During a visit to the greenhouses, tomato breeder Giamplacido Di Rosa explained how resistances are a priority, also thanks to the support of Dutch breeders.
Carmelo Iacono then spoke about the tests carried out on courgettes, which concentrate on identifying varieties resistant to the Moroccan strain of the ZYMV. The various types of courgettes - light-coloured, dark-coloured, streaked, with or without flowers - are also studied according to their use.
For what concerns peppers, after the great success of Cornelio, new yellow and red varieties are going to be introduced to cover the entire year. In 2015, the company cultivated 50 hectares of Cornelio and is planning of increasing them to 100 in 2015 and 150 in 2017.
Eugenio Salamone, the farm manager who coordinated company activities, led the visit to the facilities - from the nursery garden to the warehouse.
The seeds of the commercial varieties are then sent to Enkhuizen, where the Seed Operations department processes them to transform them into ideal seeds - easy to cultivate and producing reliable harvests.
Click here for the photo report.
The tour ended with Concetta Tringali in the meeting room, where a "seed display" had been set up.
"It was a celebration for everyone - our staff, researchers, sales managers and cooperators. We have always been concerned with innovation and with improving the varieties we select from a productive, technical and resistance point of view," explained legal representative Alessandro Schiappa.
"We are proud of being a family business. We know who we are and where we come from - who manages us and who makes us stronger. We have grown a lot in the past 15 years and increased in research. Currently there are 20 Enza Zaden research stations worldwide and 20 business offices. We have an annual growth of 9-10% and invest 30% of our turnover."
Left to right, Alessandro Schiappa, Giamplacido Di Rosa, Martin Koper, Martijn Van Stee, Concetta Tringali, Rinus van Vlimmeren and Eugenio Salamone.
Enza Zaded decided to invest in Santa Croce Camerina in 2011 in order to be closer to its clients. It now aims at making this station more efficient in terms of phytosanitary control and to become more recognisable on the market.
Left to right, Alessandro Schiappa, Giamplacido Di Rosa, Martin Koper, Martijn Van Stee, Concetta Tringali, Rinus van Vlimmeren and Eugenio Salamone.
Enza Zaded decided to invest in Santa Croce Camerina in 2011 in order to be closer to its clients. It now aims at making this station more efficient in terms of phytosanitary control and to become more recognisable on the market.
Global coordinator Martin Koper said that the company "is willing to invest more in Italy because we believe in the territory to develop varieties that can better adapt to local conditions."
Click here for the photo report.
To conclude, general manager Giuseppe Arnesi added that "you cannot do anything without a team, and what a team we have here."
Contacts:
Enza Zaden Italia SrlSS 1 Aurelia km 96+710 (lato mare)
01016 Tarquinia (VT)
Tel.: (+39) 0766 855196
Fax: (+39) 0766 850107
Marcello Fioravanti
Email: m.fioravanti@enzazaden.it
Web: www.enzazaden.it