Responding to climate change impacts: robust spinach varieties are in the pipeline

Climate Change Is Challenging Spinach Production

Climate change is increasingly disrupting spinach production across Europe. Excessive rainfall has led to crop losses, yellowing leaves and even empty shelves in recent years, while unpredictable weather continues to challenge growers from Spain to the Netherlands. At the same time, global spinach seed supply has come under pressure due to extreme spring rain in key production regions.

Turning Extreme Weather Into an Opportunity

To help growers face these challenges, Rijk Zwaan is developing more robust spinach varieties that can perform reliably under a wider range of conditions. Interestingly, extreme weather in the company’s worldwide trial fields has helped accelerate progress: while many varieties collapsed under heavy rain or late frost, a number of genetic lines consistently survived.

Breeding for True Robustness

These stronger, more resilient varieties are now being incorporated into Rijk Zwaan’s breeding programme. A truly robust variety performs well across different climates, regions and seasons - particularly important for industrial spinach growers whose crops remain in the field for longer. Alongside climate resilience, strong resistances to major diseases such as downy mildew, Stemphylium and white rust remain top priorities.

Supporting Growers for the Future

By combining climate‑ready traits with proven disease resistance, Rijk Zwaan aims to support growers as weather becomes increasingly unpredictable - helping to secure spinach production for the future.