Reliable seed means ensuring the best quality and quantity

How did you start up Seed Production at Florensis?
I set up seed production ten years ago. I was given a lot of freedom and was able to launch all kinds of initiatives myself. Luckily, I also got support from various departments who were just as enthusiastic about this project. I work with an entire team, and Seed Production has become a cornerstone of Florensis’s business.

What exactly does the Florensis Seed Production department do?
Besides producing seed, we are responsible for guaranteeing both its quality and quantity. Our Lavandula ‘Ardèche’ is one of our biggest seed varieties. We started propagating it around eight years ago. The plants we use for seed production are raised at our Dinteloord location in the Netherlands. Then they are set out in fields at external locations. The Seed Production Specialist’s job is to monitor when the time is right to harvest the seed.

Does sustainability play a role in Seed Production?
Yes, definitely. We aim to produce the best possible plants and seed using as few chemicals as possible. Not least because bees and other pollinators play a crucial role in our business. We now produce seed at ten external locations. Because good soil is important, we are currently working closely with vegetable seed producers who want to keep their soil healthy by rotating crops. This prevents the soil from becoming fatigued and needing to be steamed/disinfected.

How do you make sure the quality of the seed is reliable?
Every step in the process, from sowing to harvesting the seeds, is closely monitored by our Seed Production department. Our breeders in Quedlinburg (DE) are responsible for the quality of our starting material. They cooperate with the Product Manager to select the lavender plants according to quality and seed yield. Throughout the whole process, our Seed Production team keeps an eye open for plants with the wrong habit or colour so that the beautiful blue of our ‘Ardèche’ can be preserved. To guarantee the reliability of the seed, it is constantly tested for germination power at our Germination Laboratory. Because we have been keeping records of how many seeds can be harvested and under what conditions for many years, we can now determine how many plants we need to raise to be able to deliver a certain quantity of seed. To do this, we work closely with our Research & Development department, which carries out research into the effect of light intensity, relative humidity and temperature.

And what role does the Seed Production Department play in this?
Because of the massive rise in demand, the Seed Production Department has grown both in size and importance. We are now a highly enthusiastic team fully focused on producing seed. And because there are more of us now, we can keep an eye on processes better, we can do more tracing and we are more reliable. More people also means new, innovative ideas.

What does the future look like?
Ardèche has shown remarkable growth, year after year. Luckily, Florensis is still extremely flexible and responds enthusiastically to new initiatives, so it’s not only the plants that keep on growing but the staff too. If you want to grow.