The Chinese province of Shangdong has an optimal climate for horticulture and is very favorably located. Reason for Dutch vegetable breeder Rijk Zwaan to choose this province as its gateway to China, according to Rijk Zwaan’s business manager China, Weiping Mao.
Shandong province
Shandong is located in the east of China and has a population of 98 million people in an area that is four times as large as the Netherlands. It is one of the most densely populated areas in China and is ranked number three in the consumers’ market.
Mao says that the province is also China’s most important horticultural area. Horticultural production and trade are high in this region so the province has the largest acreage of greenhouses, a large number of facilities and the farmers are well educated. "For Rijk Zwaan this means that this region is also an important market for vegetable seeds."
Chinese vegetable growers
Start in Shandong
Rijk Zwaan started its Chinese activities in Shandong in 2001. Before that the company researched the market and growing conditions for several years. In the meantime the company has a large number of customers. Hereby Rijk Zwaan not only focuses on seed sales, but also on advice to growers for optimal cultivation of their vegetables. The vegetable breeder introduces quality breeds specific to the Chinese market and cultivation techniques. By selling breeds with natural resistance to pests and diseases the company also contributes to higher levels of food safety.
Last year, Rijk Zwaan started construction of a research facility in Jimo, also in Shandong province, to even better test breeds under Chinese climate conditions, with increasingly sophisticated growing techniques.
Sixty companies in Shandong
Rijk Zwaan is not the only company located in Shandong. In the meantime there are more than sixty, according to the report 'Economic overview and opportunities of Shandong province' by the Dutch Business Support Office (NBSO) in Qingdao and Jinan.For the agro-food sector there are not only opportunities in horticulture, but also in livestock farming. The Chinese are very interested in modernization and sustainability of agriculture and horticulture in the food industry. This can lead to cooperation and exchange of technology and knowledge. Several pilot projects have already been started in Shandong in agriculture and horticulture, with frequent use of Dutch expertise.