Piloting hybrid vegetable seed production services The applicant HFT Holding B.V. and the local partner Megaservicios Luna, are going to set-up a joint venture together with third partner J.H. Trouw Holding B.V.. Within this new joint venture on-demand hybrid vegetable seed production services for international breeding companies will take place. For this operation a production facility encompassing three separate high-tech greenhouses with a total production area of 0.9 ha, and central facilities including offices, staff facilities, warehouses and post-harvest handling rooms will be set-up.International vegetable breeding companies are focused on the development of new hybrid varieties. Before these new varieties can be commercialised, seed production out of the parental lines has to be realised. Breeding companies traditionally outsource the majority of these activities to companies specialised in seed production, but demands of the breeding companies are changing. Seed production companies need to be able to deliver seeds of higher quality and reliability and have to offer year-round services. By establishing the joint venture in Jalapa, it will be possible to realise year-round production of hybrid vegetable seeds. In order to guarantee seeds of higher quality and reliability the joint venture will work according to the phytosanitary standard Good Seed and Plant Practices (GSPP) that is currently being developed.Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)Based on the experience of the project partners at De Ruiter Seeds Group, the joint venture will establish an own CSR policy that will be compliant with local laws and with the quality management system ISO 9001. The company will take care of security at the workplace and its surroundings, provide health assistance and education, and will facilitate local transport for employees. Furthermore, complete legal audits will be executed with certain frequency to avoid illegal practices and ensure compliance with labour standards and human rights.Impact•	Employment and working conditionsBy the end of the project there will be 44 full-time employees, of which 9 are medium-/high-level employees. Two years after the project has been completed there will be 103 full-time employees, of which 15 are medium-/high-level employees. Salaries will be 7% above the minimum wage and employees will receive a range of fringe benefits such as health insurance, paid maternity leave, paid course to complete primary school and regular medical consults at the company's premises. Furthermore, employees will be offered English lessons.•	Innovation / Transfer of knowledgeHFT Seed Services will build up a staff knowledgeable in hybrid vegetable seed production according to the highest standards. This concerns all methodologies, processes and ways of working around hybridisation including flower emasculation and cross pollination as well as seed extraction, drying, storage, packing and shipment. As seed production takes place in high-tech greenhouses, agronomic knowledge will also be transferred. Quality management and assurance according ISO 9001 as well as phytosanitary principles according to GSPP standards will be of utmost importance in the operation of the company and accordingly all staff will be trained. For Guatemala only the production according to GSPP standards is new, the rest of the knowledge is already present at De Ruiter San Pedro S.A.•	Chain effectsDuring the establishment and operation of the joint venture, the project partners will contract local suppliers as much as possible. In case products are locally unavailable according to the required specifications, they will be imported, preferably through a local agent or distributor. Additionally, one or more local pig farmers will benefit from the joint venture, as the organic waste like pulp, resulting from the extraction of seeds out of mature fruits, will be supplied for free.•	EnvironmentThis project will have a neutral effect on the environment. Project partners will try to reduce their pollution as much as possible by applying efficient technology like computer controlled fertigation. Whenever possible, litter and waste will be recycled.•	Position of womenAll job positions within the company will be equally open for men and women. It is estimated that at least 50% of the employees will be female, mainly covering basic-level positions. The goal of this project is the establishment of on-demand hybrid vegetable seed production services with an annual capacity of almost 500 kg hybrid tomato seeds, resulting in a turnover of € 870,000 by the end of the project.