Armada China (also known as Dahui Flower Horticulture Ltd.) signed a framework cooperation agreement with a local partner to breed Multiflora chrysanthemums in China. The signing ceremony between Armada and LanGuiQi took place on June 18, where the vice-consul of Shanghai spoke laudably about the new joined venture. Gerard Lentjes, CEO of Dahui and co-owner of Armada Young Plants, explains that the agreement will be beneficial for the company on several aspects.
High production
Armada China is working together with a privately owned company in China, which has the facilities available and a lot of people who studied at Wageningen University, explains Gerard Lentjes. “So we are expecting to produce seedlings at a high capacity, after which we can then market them globally. It is beneficial for us to be able to breed at the place where the plants will be cultivated in China. In addition, labor is much less of an issue in China than in other countries. As a result, we will be able to produce a lot of chrysanthemum seedlings in a short amount of time. In The Netherlands, for example, we do not have the capacity to breed to this extent.”
Travel restraints
One of the biggest challenges in forming the agreement has been the travel restraints. “We have not been able to travel to China throughout the process so far, even though the agreements do need to be signed in person, for example. But both Armada and the local company were excited about this cooperation, so while it has been a challenge to do everything from a distance, we have been able to make it work so far.”
High demand
The demand for chrysanthemums in general, and especially Multiflora, has been steadily increasing in China, according to Gerard Lentjes. “But it is still an area that is under development in China and we are looking forward to working on that together. The varieties that will be developed in China will become available for Armada’s worldwide trialing and marketing. But there is a lot that needs to happen before we can officially introduce them to our assortment, which we are hoping to achieve in about three to four years. As of today, it is still a framework agreement so the further details will follow in the future, but we are excited to be among the first breeders to start such a project in China.”
For more information:
Armada Young Plants
Gerard Lentjes
[email protected]
www.armadayoungplants.nl