Syngenta Tomato Vision centre opens its doors for virtual visitors
Located in Maasland of The Netherlands, it was successfully inaugurated and virtually presented live by streaming last May 26th.
The new Syngenta tomato demonstration centre aims at changing the way tomato varieties are bred and fulfilling new market demands in the future. The goal of the new modern glasshouse is to ensure a faster introduction of new high-quality varieties. With this new investment Syngenta strengthens its position as leading breeder in a dynamic vegetables market. Tomato Vision centre is now open online, giving the opportunity for virtual visitors to experience the journey remotely.
Creating the tomatoes of the future
Just one year after its building was announced, the new R&D and marketing facility called Tomato Vision opened last May 26th in Maasland, the Netherlands. The centre includes 14.000 m2 of high-tech glasshouse where 800 unique new hybrids (soon 1,000) and more then 100 commercial varieties (soon 120) are tested and selected for specific market needs, using ultra-modern and traditional breeding technologies. Among the most successful ones are of course the Kumato® line, as well as the most promising ones like Dubbo? (Dubbo is just a variety name, no brand… or which one do you mean?) and Yoom®. The greenhouse has been designed to mimic real conditions at the growers, featuring different sections for lit and unlit cultivation with ultimate climate control. An area of 1.500 m2 is open to visitors to offer them a unique first insight into upcoming introductions along with a deeper understanding of Syngenta’s whole active glasshouse portfolio. Tomato Vision is also a platform to engage and connect with customers and? to identify their needs. “We want to develop varieties that truly meet growers’ and customers’ demands. By creating this connection between our breeders and the market, we are able to deliver fine-tuned varieties” said Ruud Kaagman, Global Tomato Crop Unit Head at Syngenta.
Grabbing the digital opportunity
As the Covid-19 pandemic has recently highlighted how digital communications can overcome physical constraints, Tomato Vision was the first horticulture experimental centre to have an inaugural opening online. “This wonderful achievement can now reach our customers and partners around the world. Of course, we would like to welcome our visitors physically as soon as possible, but for now we can bring you Tomato Vision at your desk, wherever this is!” said Ruud Kaagman. Hygiene and biosecurity conditions already challenged the access to glasshouses and the current context makes every meeting in person difficult. By using modern digital communication tools and virtual reality technology, Syngenta Tomato Vision centre started to interact with its virtual visitors and provide them a worthwhile experience, making this centre a truly global resource.
Experiencing tomatoes from concept variety to plate
Syngenta’s tomato portfolio is highly diverse as the result of more than 20 breeding programs around the world. The leading vegetable breeder offers performant varieties in all different segments, for active and passive glasshousing. Tomato Vision invites the visitor to an immersive journey from concept varieties to delicious tomatoes on Syngenta menu, making its portfolio and breeding programs more comprehensible and allowing growers and value chain partners to exchange knowledge, ideas and expectations. This will influence future developments in tomato breeding, encourage cooperation and collaboration between parties and ultimately improve the tomato business for everyone.
