Enza Zaden
| Industry | Biotechnology |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1938 |
| Founder | Jacob Mazereeuw |
| Headquarters | Enkhuizen |
| Products | Vegetable Seeds |
Number of employees | 600 |
| Website |
enzazaden |
Enza Zaden is a plant breeding company from Enkhuizen[1] in North Holland, which produces vegetable seeds for the professional market. The company belongs to the ten biggest vegetable breeding companies in the world and has over thirty subsidiaries[2] and over 600 employees.[3] Beside the main crops: tomato, bell pepper, cucumber and lettuce, Enza also breeds melon, onion, and many other vegetables. "Enza" is an abbreviation from the old name "Enkhuizer Zaadwinkel"[4]
History
Enza Zaden was founded in 1938 by Jacob Mazereeuw as "De Enkhuizer Zaadwinkel". Initially the company sold vegetable seeds, potatoes and legumes. In 1944 the company name was changed into "De Enkhuizer Zaadhandel". After the Second World War, the company focused entirely on professional breeding of vegetables.
In 1959 one of Jacob's sons, Piet, started the first plant breeding activities of the company. In 1962, his newly developed variety of tomato, "Extase", came on the market, and was very successful. The success which followed gave the company the opportunity to develop itself further.
In the 1980s, Enza expanded further internationally with plant breeding activities on Crete starting in 1984, a first foreign subsidiary in the United Kingdom in 1985 and a first R&D-station abroad (opened in 1987 in Italy). Today, the research sections and commercial subsidiaries of the company are established in all continents.[5]
Activities
The main activity of Enza is developing new vegetable varieties for domestic and foreign customers. Enza focusses on the breeding of taste, looks, yield, labor friendliness and plant disease resistance. Enza breeds its products on the classical way, so without genetic modification. Enza does use advanced technologies in the breeding process.
Enza has a seed production company in Tanzania, Africa.[6] There, and at other production locations, the company grows for sale.
Enza is a part of the foundation Seed Valley, a partnership between companies in North Holland who are active in the horticulture.