Axia’s research center fully operational

Naaldwijk, the Netherlands – While a range of trials were initiated at the Certhon Innovation Center in 2021, construction of Axia Vegetable Seeds’ new research facility began in early 2025. Today, the high‑tech research center – fully designed and realized turn‑key by Certhon – is fully operational. Within the 1‑hectare greenhouse, advanced seed breeding research takes place in an environment that combines maximum control, predictability and sustainability.

The greenhouse has been purpose‑built for research and breeding and consists of fourteen separate compartments, each with its own installations and cultivation settings. This enables multiple trials to be conducted simultaneously under strictly controlled conditions. Activities within the research center include tomato crossbreeding and backcrossing. Processes such as propagation are also carried out entirely within the facility, ensuring continuity, manageability and the highest hygiene standards throughout the research process.

Turn-key greenhouse with a focus on irrigation and precision
Certhon delivered the project fully turn‑key, including all technical installations. A key focal point is the extensive irrigation system. “The water system is built around eight day‑storage silos,” explains site manager Colin Verbeek. “Combined with liquid fertilizers and a highly accurate fertilizer dosing unit, this allows us to create specific water recipes for each compartment.”

The system is connected to eight irrigation units and recipe selection valves, enabling each greenhouse compartment to receive exactly the required irrigation recipe. Rainwater is collected, filtered and disinfected, and together with mains water forms the basis for fertilizer dosing. This creates a reliable foundation for precise irrigation.

The extensive recipe selection system, with one recipe per main pipeline, allows for rapid switching. “Based on the crop stage – and even per time of day – we can switch between recipes,” says Verbeek. The system is also highly advanced in terms of water reuse. Drainage water is collected, filtered and disinfected via a central ozone installation, after which it is reused within the irrigation system.

Sustainable energy and a controlled climate
The research center is heated using geothermal energy and operates entirely without a gas boiler. Certhon carried out the controlled drilling for the heat connection, ensuring optimal integration of the sustainable heat source into Axia’s existing energy system. This results in a stable and sustainable heat supply that aligns with the company’s long‑term vision.

Cultivation is supported by dimmable LED lighting. “Light levels can be precisely tuned to both the crop and the research objective,” Verbeek explains. “This delivers optimal growing conditions while ensuring efficient energy use.”
Built for future‑focused research

With this research center, Axia Vegetable Seeds now has access to a high‑quality and flexible platform for breeding research. At the same time, Certhon demonstrates how a technically complex and knowledge‑intensive greenhouse project for the Food Value Chain can be successfully delivered: integrally designed, turn‑key built and fully focused on reliable and reproducible cultivation conditions.

This project underlines what both Axia and Certhon stand for: deploying smart technology to gain better control over growth – today and in the future.