Dutch Food Companies Share Secrets for Innovation and Product Consistency

Spreading Good Seeds Through Adherence to Quality

International seed developer Enza Zaden is observing its 75th anniversary in 2013. The company is one of several major seed companies located in Enkhuizen, a harbor city north of Amsterdam in the heart of the region known as “Seed Valley.” Jeroen van Bilsen, Enza Zaden’s manager of quality assurance, said the company strives to develop new, innovative vegetable

varieties by combining attractive, natural vegetable characteristics into new products. “We produce and market the seed of these varieties worldwide,” van Bilsen said. “The seed operations department is responsible for ‘packaging’ our innovative varieties into quality seeds.”

Van Bilsen defined a quality seed as one that is easy to sow, is healthy, pure, and true to its type, and has “perfect” germination. He pointed out that Enza Zaden has a quality assurance management system designed to ensure the delivery of healthy, good quality seeds to its customers.

“Enza Zaden complies with all regulatory requirements concerning seed quality in the countries [where] we market our seeds,” Van Bilsen said. “Seed health and seed quality are regulated in the European Union by law. In the Netherlands, vegetable seed companies are under the direct supervision of the Netherlands Inspection Service for Horticulture, known as Naktuinbouw.”

Enza Zaden is accredited by the Naktuinbouw to test for seed health and germination. Every year the Naktuinbouw audits Enza Zaden’s quality assurance system, which is based on ISO 17025 requirements. The company’s laboratory must participate in proficiency tests and perform well to maintain accreditation. Tracking and tracing procedures are part of the requirements designed to ensure seed integrity.