October 18, 2012

CRV, Hendrix Genetics, Topigs, Cobb Europe are committed to reinforcing the position of the Netherlands as an innovative livestock breeding country through the Breed4Food initiative, partnering Wageningen University and Research Centre.

To this end, they signed a declaration of intent on September 3 in Wageningen. The four Netherlands-based international companies - CRV (beef cattle), Hendrix Genetics (poultry and pigs), TOPIGS (pigs) and Cobb Europe (poultry) - are all among the world leaders in their areas of breeding.

Wageningen University & Research Centre, on the other hand, is a globally-renowned research and education institution. The mission of Wageningen University & Research centre is 'To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life', focusing on healthy food and living environment.

The primary goal of Breed4Food is to build a top research and innovation institute in livestock genetics. The research programme will focus on three points of excellence including exploiting DNA information; enabling new breeding goal traits; and creating added value in the food chain. The initiative will be supported financially through the Dutch Top sector Policy.

Innovations in these fields are crucial in order to be able to satisfy the increasing demand for high-quality animal proteins globally. Sophisticated breeding programmes need to be implemented in order to increase the efficiency of the food chain, to reduce the ecological footprint, to respond to changing consumer wishes and to contribute to the improved welfare of humans and animals.

CRV is an international enterprise in the field of cattle improvement. The shareholders are the Dutch Co-operative CR Delta and the Flemish Co-operative VRV. CRV has operations in The Netherlands, Belgium, Brazil, New Zealand, the Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Germany and Spain.

Hendrix Genetics is a multispecies breeding company with five primary activities: layer breeding (Institut de Sélection Animale-ISA,), pig breeding (Hypor), turkey breeding (Hybrid), aquaculture breeding (Landcatch) and poultry distribution (Grelier, Grelavi, Greleger, STVO ,ALS, SFPA, Integra, Joice & Hill).

TOPIGS promotes progress in pigs through research, innovation and genetic improvement, while Cobb Europe supplies broiler breeding stock in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.