Vegetable seed production by far largest in Limburg

Limburg is big on seeds. The latest figures from CBS show that the province produces by far more seeds and propagation material than any other province in the Netherlands. These are mainly vegetable seeds and young plants that need further cultivation.

This week CBS announced figures showing that the province of Limburg is the largest seed producer in our country. Roughly one third of the total Dutch area used for seed production and propagation material is in Limburg. That is about 686 hectares of agricultural land. By comparison, number two, Nood Brabant, and number three, South Holland, use 458 and 329 hectares respectively for seed production.

The sector is growing
Limburg is not only the largest province in seed production, but the sector is also growing rapidly. Between 2000 and 2017, the area under cultivation increased by an average of 61 hectares per year. The number of companies in the sector more than doubled in that period, from 40 to 97 companies. The recently acquired Nunhems Zaden in Nunhem, Limburg, for example, is one of the largest players in seed breeding and production in the international market.

Source: De Limburger