De Ruiter, the Bayer ForwardFarming initiative and BraZander Nursery announce joint collaboration to showcase cutting edge glasshouse agriculture

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.”

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.”

Click here to watch the event recap and hear discussion panels, presentations and Q&A on the sustainable future of glasshouse horticulture and tomato production, featuring speakers from Bayer, De Ruiter, LTO Nederland, ABN AMRO, Groningen University and the Alderman of the Lansingerland municipality.

About BraZander Nursery

BraZander VOF is a collaboration between Rob Brabander and Paul Zantman. With a common vision about vegetable cultivation, the duo joined forces in 2001 to form the company that is now called BraZander. BraZander specializes in high-quality tomato and pepper production with an emphasis on flavor and attractiveness. Visit www.brazander.com for more information.

About De Ruiter^® Seeds

De Ruiter^® is a leader in the supply of glasshouse growing solutions specializing in the breeding, production and sale of hybrid seeds for greenhouse growing of tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, eggplants and zucchini. The company’s industry-leading breeding programs and extensive annual R&D investments offer growers convenient and reliable options to improve product quality while addressing challenges associated with cost and waste. Committed to the production of the highest quality seeds, De Ruiter^® works with customers and chain partners to help ensure the supply of fresh, safe produce around the world. De Ruiter^® is part of the Vegetable Seeds business of Bayer's Crop Science division, which is represented by the Seminis^® and De Ruiter^® seed brands. For more information about De Ruiter^® seed, visit www.deruiterseeds.com.