Nunhems Italy expanding, thanks to new investments

Rodolfo Zaniboni, Country Head for Nunhems Italy, explained the main phases in the history of the company.


A part of Nunhems' staff. Left to right: Stefano Carducci (Melon & Watermelon Sales Specialist), Elisa Pizzi, Antonella Viti, Gi-young Kim (MCA-General), Fabiana Ferioli e Rodolfo Zaniboni (Country Head).

"Before the opening of our direct branch, Nunhems was represented by an industrial seed distributor. Then, when the Sant'Agata Bolognese (Emilia-Romagna) site was bought, the activity of the branch started expanding and nowadays has 70 employees and an experimental surface of 15 hectares, plus more rented space." 

Research is carried out in a protected environment. Greenhouses are air-conditioned according to the specific needs of each cultivar.

Research, seed production and sales are the main activities of Nunhems' Italian branch. "We follow 4 research and development programmes: processed tomatoes, table tomatoes, peppers and watermelon. At the same time, we carry out research for the benefit of the entire group and we sell our products to the Italian market." 


Pepper plants in the greenhouse. Notice the different grades of development of the trials. In this phase, growth doesn't need to be uniform, as it is still a preliminary stage to check whether the genetic traits of interest have been transferred to the specimens. Verifications are carried out at Nunhems' headquarters using sophisticated techniques such as "molecular markers".

Sant'Agata Bolognese's plant is expanding: in addition to new Dutch-model greenhouses, the new phytopathology laboratory is being completed (500 sq m) as well as an experimental greenhouse. On top of this, another office building will be renovated towards the end of the year.


One of the six temperature and humidity-controlled growth chambers of the new phytopathology laboratory. Plants are contaminated with pathogens to check their resistance. Below: the new top-of-the-range greenhouses that support the phytopathology department. 



"Sant'Agata Bolognese is a small town, and we are proud that Nunhems contributes, providing new jobs for the local community."

The work the Italian branch carries out is very similar to that of a commercial farm. Plants are grown in nursery gardens and then transplanted in greenhouses. The difference is that the path starts from seeds to end with seeds as the final produce.

One of the nursery gardens. Below: Stefano Carducci (Melon & Watermelon Sales Specialist) next to watermelon plants.



Claudio Castellari, farm manager, guides our visit to the various units where breeders, i.e., the varietal selection experts, operate. The core of the centre is the controlled-temperature seed bank, which is carefully safeguarded.

The bank is the raw material where the creativity of breeders will be exercised over the next years, helped by the deep knowledge of the market and of its potential future needs. The hybridisation and selection processes can in fact take as long as 10 years.

After first selection, those lines that are considered interesting by researchers are cultivated "soil-less", in vases that make it easier to move the plants.


Claudio Castellari, farm manager, shows us the tomato plant vases that are being cross-pollinated by researchers. The operation is carried out manually, plant by plant.

All of the units where breeders work have been arranged to grant the maximum efficiency and modularity. Each greenhouse has customisable fertigation and air-conditioning systems.


Above: the water system in greenhouses. Below: the control panels for the management of air-conditioning.



After this first phase, in which the seed is produced and shipped to other Nunhems' research centres, the varietal selection is transformed in on-field reproductions of planting conditions, cultivating plants with interesting genetic traits in greenhouses that are similar to those used in commercial farms.

If all goes well, during this phase 2 or 3 promising hybrids will emerge among the hundreds of new transplants, which will then be considered for a new commercial phase.

"There's no guarantee that a genetic trait will remain stable over time. This is the reason why at Nunhems we are extremely cautious before commercialising one of our varieties. Three experimentation seasons are needed to fully verify the continuity of desired characteristics, and only then is the new hybrid offered to commercial farms."

For more info:
Nunhems Italy
Via Ghiarone, 2
40019 Sant'Agata Bolognese (BO) - Italy
Tel.: (+39) 051 6817411
Fax: (+39) 051 6817400
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.nunhems.it