Bayer announced the first glasshouse farm, BraZander Nursery, has joined its growing Bayer ForwardFarming initiative—a platform for knowledge sharing on modern and sustainable agriculture on independently-owned farms. Currently, the Bayer ForwardFarming network embraces 24 other independent, entrepreneurial farms across 12 countries and 3 continents.
De Ruiter, the Bayer vegetable seed brand dedicated to under glass crop cultivation, and the Netherlands-based BraZander Nursery first began their collaboration in 2018 to build and launch the De Ruiter Experience Center. The De Ruiter Experience Center is a state-of-the-art glasshouse tomato production and demonstration center that offers firsthand experiences of sustainable glasshouse cultivation. Each year, the Center opens its doors to visitors to showcase new tomato varieties and explore the latest breeding, cultivation, digital, recycling, and sustainable pest management technologies.
“By bringing the De Ruiter Experience Center into the Bayer ForwardFarming network, we have an opportunity to combine our leading vegetable seeds breeding and glasshouse expertise with a focus on innovations in sustainable agriculture, “ said Inci Dannenberg, Head of Global Vegetable Seeds for Bayer. “Through this partnership, we can provide our customers with new insights on how we can work together to support the growth of a better, healthier world.”
Virtual event
On May 11, Bayer ForwardFarming and the De Ruiter Experience Center hosted an interactive, virtual event featuring expert perspectives on cutting edge innovation in horticulture, the challenges and opportunities related to sustainability and innovation in glasshouse growing, and how growers and retailers are working together to stimulate consumption of fruits and vegetables to foster a healthier society.
Joost van Regteren, Head of Market Development EMEA/APAC for Vegetable Seeds, was interviewed live during the event to share insights and future plans for the De Ruiter product portfolio. “The De Ruiter Experience Center represents an investment in horticulture growers and stakeholders on and beyond the farm,” he noted. “With a customer-centric approach and strong communication platform, we are openly sharing the glasshouse production process with growers, the community, and the broader food value chain.”
“As part of the Bayer ForwardFarming initiative, the De Ruiter Experience Center-BraZander Nursery is connected to a global network of farmers and will serve as a platform for dialogue on sustainable horticulture with growers and the many interested stakeholders,” added Klaus Kirsch, Global Bayer ForwardFarming Director. “Alongside the De Ruiter and BraZander teams, we’re giving people insights on sustainable glasshouse growing practices and the broad choice of tomato taste, smell, and color available to the consumer.”
De Ruiter Seeds
Bayer