Royal Van Zanten’s Chrysanthemum cutting farm in Uganda expands

RIJSENHOUT, Netherlands: Work has started on the development of a further 2.2 ha of greenhouse production in Uganda at Mukono-based Royal Van Zanten site. Two additional greenhouses, fitted with LED lighting and built around environmental and social considerations, will cater for the growing demand for sustainably grown Chrysanthemum cuttings.

Royal Van Zanten is taking on a cultivation specialist to guarantee the quality of cuttings production and to develop further initiatives around sustainable cultivation. The company is expecting to take on 100 new cultivation staff all year round to meet growing market demand; a win-win situation for the environment and employment.

“In addition to the planned centralisation of our breeding and propagating activities at Colibri in Colombia this year, we are making this investment and taking this new step to enable us to reliably meet the growing demand for our flowers and pot plants,” says Dik van Alphen, Production Manager at Royal Van Zanten. “Our spray chrysanthemum Chic® is doing particularly well and we expect this growth to continue.” The first greenhouse will be put into operation in week 12 of this year.

Breeding company Royal Van Zanten is a true pioneer in the field of human resources. Receiving the Silver Award for Export Companies in 2018, and with its wide range of social facilities, this employer is an important pillar in Ugandan society in the regions where its production locations operate. In addition to providing fair wages (which is actually inspiring other employers), Royal Van Zanten is investing in healthcare, transport and training for its 1,200 employees.

Royal Van Zanten is a household name in Chrysanthemums and their roots go back more than 150 years.  The company constantly seeks to improve its genetics and create synergy in breeding and propagation technology.