NGTs will definitely help us

Tholen – “That is something all breeding companies have been looking forward to for a long time. Then we can get fully to work. Many countries have more liberal legislation in this area, and if we, as the European seed breeding sector, want to remain competitive, we simply have to go along with it,” explains Sjaak van der Ploeg – Breeding & Strategy Lead at Axia, regarding the importance of access to new genomic techniques.

Axia focuses on the seed breeding of vegetable crops, particularly tomatoes. Sjaak provides clarification in this article, which previously appeared in the trade journal Primeur. The relaxation of European regulations is now final.

In doing so, Sjaak somewhat tempers the high expectations regarding the application of NGTs. “The expectation is that NGTs will accelerate breeding. And for the somewhat more general problems – such as powdery mildew, for example, which occurs in many different crops and about which much is already known regarding the gene – that will certainly be the case.” He expects things will be different for more complex problems involving multiple genes or for unknown traits, where much of the sequence and DNA still need to be mapped. “But NGTs will certainly help us, although it won’t immediately result in an abundance of traits in crops in 2028. And of course, developments in conventional breeding aren’t standing still either.”

Data and AI
“There is still much to be gained from conventional breeding,” says Sjaak. For instance, there are developments in the field of data and AI. “Nowadays, we collect enormous amounts of data: from the DNA profile of plants to growth data in the greenhouse.”

He sees that this development is drastically changing the profession: by combining genotypic data (DNA) with phenotypic data (visible traits) and cultivation data from the greenhouse, an increasingly complete picture emerges. “With AI, you can recognize patterns within this and predict which varieties perform best under certain conditions,” Sjaak explains. “But data never tell the whole story. You also have to keep looking in the greenhouse and visit the grower.” Meanwhile, disease resistance remains one of the most important priorities in tomato breeding, Sjaak indicates. The impact of the Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV) is a clear example of this. “That virus spreads easily, mechanically and even via bumblebees,” says Sjaak. “Resistant varieties now exist, but you are already seeing mutations emerging again.”

According to him, the challenge lies not only in genetics but also in workplace behavior. “As soon as resistance is present, hygiene measures sometimes slacken. You see this reflected in practice. It is comparable to how people deal with the coronavirus. With the disappearance of the virus on a large scale, there is actually no longer any attention paid to the hygiene measures to prevent this, resulting in occasional outbreaks nonetheless.”

Energy crisis drives breeding
Current events are also leaving their mark on breeding goals. The energy crisis – previously visible after the outbreak of the war between Ukraine and Russia and topical again – has a direct influence on growers’ choices. “When gas prices rose, we saw that growers reduced their lighting and maintained lower temperatures,” says Sjaak.

As a result, demand is also shifting towards breeders. “There is a need for varieties that use energy more efficiently. Plants that produce well even at lower temperatures or with less light.” At the same time, the rise of LED lighting is creating new challenges. “LED can, for example, affect the coloring of the crop in the winter. We take that into account in our selection.”

Another development increasingly impacting the sector is robotization. In various countries, robots are already being deployed for harvesting or pruning leaves – “the first one is now operational in the Netherlands as well and functions at about 80 percent” – although the technology is not yet fully up to speed, Sjaak notes. “The harvesting robots cannot yet keep up with the pace of humans.” The impact of this extends beyond technology alone. “If you want robots to work, you also have to adapt your crop. Think of an open plant structure, more visible trusses, and more uniform and easy-to-cut stems. These are characteristics that relate to the architecture of a plant, and we incorporate them into breeding to make crops ‘robot-ready’.”

New cultivation systems
Parallel to robotization, new cultivation systems are also emerging. Sjaak points to concepts where tomatoes are produced on tables or in short crops. “These are systems that require fewer operations, such as twisting or removing suckers. You harvest a limited number of trusses and then start again.” These types of innovations address structural challenges such as labor shortages and cost control, Sjaak indicates. “The sector must find solutions for less available labor and persistently high energy costs,” he says. “That leads you to other cultivation models as well.”

According to Sjaak, the future does not lie in a single solution, but in a combination of developments. “NGTs, data, AI, robotization, and new cultivation systems are increasingly intertwined. It is not either-or, but both-and. Everything is coming together.” At the same time, practical experience remains the guiding principle. “You can have as much data as you want, but ultimately, a variety simply has to do what the grower and the market demand.” Continuous innovation in the tomato aisle

For alongside technology and cultivation systems, product innovation remains a constant factor within the tomato market. While the aisle used to be dominated by the classic vine tomato, the assortment has broadened significantly over the past few decades, Sjaak notes. “You see that new types of tomatoes first develop as a niche and can then grow into a standard product.” He points to the rise of snack tomatoes and specialties, such as those in various colors, which have become indispensable in the fruit and vegetable aisle.

According to him, innovation lies not only in appearance but primarily in taste experience and shelf life. “Especially with smaller tomatoes, the consumer really expects a good taste. At the same time, a tomato must have a long shelf life so that the fruit can be moved through the supply chain for a long time without the quality deteriorating. If a new variety succeeds in this and adds something in terms of experience, you see that it can develop from a specialty into a widely accepted product in the market.”

This article previously appeared in edition 4, 40th volume of Primeur. See www.agfprimeur.nl for more information. For more information:

Axia Vegetable Seeds
info@axiaseeds.com
www.axiaseeds.com

Publication date: Mon 29 Jun 2026
© GroentenNieuws.nl / Martine van der Wekken