The Malaga county of La AxarquÃa is emerging as a leader in the production of horticultural seeds in Andalusia; Moreover, a large part of the seeds grown anywhere in Europe are produced there.
The seed obtaining activity requires exhaustive quality and sanitary controls, even at a genetic level. The choice of Malaga has been made based on its stable climate and the distance to the large commercial production areas, where the risk of phytosanitary pests is higher.
For more than three decades, AgroRifer has been producing cauliflower seeds, as well as of tomatoes, peppers, melons, watermelons and zucchini, among other crops. AgroRifer is one of the main Malaga-based companies dedicated to the production of fruit and vegetable seeds, giving employment to more than 70 workers who receive the necessary training for the correct management of the activity.
Companies producing horticultural seeds usually have two productions per year: one between spring and summer, and the other between late summer and autumn. Also, seed production is carried out based on the multinational's demand and currently the cultivation system is hydroponic with perlite.
The seed industry in the European continent has an approximate turnover of 6.8 billion Euro and covers a total of 7,200 seed companies of different sizes, which employ more than 50,000 people. A quarter of them are devoted to improvement and research.
Europe is the world's leading exporter of seeds and Spain is one of the global powers in this sector. Andalusia is also the leading region in terms of plant research and development, accounting for 20 R&D centers out of the 52 that the entire country has. In fact, the improvement of a plant variety is a research process that requires an average of between 10 and 15 years, and an economic investment of between two and three million Euro.
In Spain, the National Association of Vegetable Producers (Anove) brings together 51 entities (49 private companies and two public research centers) dedicated to research, development and exploitation of new plant varieties, as well as other biotechnological inventions related to plants or plant material. It includes companies that work in the field of extensive crops, biotechnology, horticultural crops and fruit trees.
Source: diariosur.es