A significant share of the GDP of the Netherlands stems from agri- and horticultural value chains. Due to our limited availability of land, high population pressure and trade orientation over the past centuries we focused on effective land use, high value crops and on the global markets. The seeds and planting materials sector, based on over two centuries of entrepreneurship, an excellent knowledge infrastructure and effective public institutions for quality controls, variety registration and breeders’ rights, has evolved into a global player with an export value of some 4 billion Euro. This entails major shares of global trade particularly in vegetable, flower, grass and potato seeds and smaller shares for several other crops.

The sector is organized in Plantum. Its vision is “a world in which an economically healthy, innovative and diverse Netherlands seed and plants sector contributes to important global goals such as food security and quality; more sustainable agriculture and horticulture; product quality and diversity; and well-being in a healthy living environment”.

The Dutch seed sector welcomes you to Rotterdam for the centennial celebration of ISF and the World Seed Congress 2024, providing you a platform to meet ‘everybody’ relevant in the global seed sector in a pleasant yet professional environment. Rotterdam is the prime business city in the country and is continually future oriented; a perfect place to enter the second century of our association. Discuss matters of mutual interest, enhance and strengthen your network, and take the opportunity to trade your products.