Harmoniz Seeds is set to open a new high-tech research and development facility in Ontario, Canada, aimed at providing earlier access to tomato, pepper, and cucumber varieties tailored to North American growing conditions. Scheduled to open on May 14, 2025, the site marks a strategic expansion of Harmoniz's presence in North America and complements its existing operations in the Netherlands, Mexico, and Italy.
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The new facility is intended to support the breeding and validation of vegetable varieties adapted to the diverse and often challenging climate of North America, which ranges from cold winters to hot, humid summers. It will serve as both a testing ground for varieties developed at the company's central R&D site in the Netherlands and a demonstration site for local growers.
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According to Stephan Vonk (Right), Area Sales Manager for Canada and the USA, the Ontario facility will allow Harmoniz to conduct region-specific trials and accelerate the introduction of pre-commercial or semi-commercial varieties into the North American market. The site will also host trials designed to validate plant performance under realistic growing conditions.
In parallel, the company operates a Plant Virus Inoculation System (PVIS) testing program at a separate Canadian location. This initiative focuses on evaluating resistance to Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV) in candidate varieties using local viral strains. These efforts are coordinated with PVIS programs in Israel, Spain, and Sicily to ensure the relevance and reliability of results across different environments.
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The Ontario facility also supports the company's broader strategy to build partnerships with stakeholders across the supply chain, from growers to retailers. A key objective is to validate varieties that balance agronomic performance, disease resistance, and fruit quality under local growing conditions.
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This new center reflects an ongoing industry trend of developing regional R&D hubs to better address localized agricultural challenges and improve crop resilience and market suitability.
© HarmonizFor more information:
Stephan Vonk
Harmoniz Seeds
Tel: +1 519 325 9506
Email: [email protected]
www.harmonizseed.com
