The Agrico cooperative was established on April 2, 1973 in Emmeloord.

The new cooperative is an amalgamation of:

• Groninger Pootaardappel- en Zaaizaadverkoopbureau (PZVB)
• Coöperatieve Drentse Telersvereniging G.A. (DTV)
• Coöperatieve Producenten- en Handelsvereniging voor Akkerbouwgewassen
• A. (Zuiderzeepolders)

Powerful position
It quickly became obvious that joining forces was a good idea. The cost versus turnover ratio became healthier, the growing of varieties more successful and the new Agrico conquered a powerful position on the outlet markets domestically and internationally. In 1974, the new Cooperative established together with Zuid-West-Nederland the

Agrico-Holland sales organization. This converts Agrico into the leading organization in the seed potato sector with a strong market position in the sale of seed and consumer potatoes.

In 1973, the Solana grower association is also established. Since then, Solana's management has been an important consultancy and negotiation partner for Agrico and Agrico Research management.

When Agrico celebrates its fourth anniversary and the pool system with the potatoes turns out to be successful, the organization expands its site to growing and marketing onions. Agrico decides to start this new venture carefully and first expands an existing building. Agrico develops an onion sorting packaging line in the building. The introduction of this new line of business is successful and Agrico buys additional land next to the existing site and builds a new building. Eleven years after the start, in 1988, Agrico decides to stop with these activities because the processing and value increase of the onions entail higher costs. Since, in the meantime, Agrico's potato sorting company CAB and Agrico's potato peeling business VITA are growing, they decide to expand their activities on the released business site.

In 1980, Agrico sets out the initial framework in relation to Russia by participating in a number of official missions. In 1988, Agrico sells three projects to Moscow. The Russian farmers also buy machines from Agrico in addition to seed potatoes.

In addition to Agrico employees, young Agrico growers assist and support their Russian colleagues in growing potatoes. The project formula is successful and, at the beginning of the 1990s, sometimes more than sixty Agrico growers are sent to Russia in the space of a few weeks.

Agrico establishes the Agrico Project BV company, with Frans Holstein as director, during this challenging time under which many of these projects fell. The trade, however, quickly deteriorated due to the ruble crisis and the decision was taken at that time to pull the plug.

In 1989, Agrico buys shares in the Leo de Kock & Zonen B.V. potato-selling company based in Purmerend (the Netherlands). The company founded in 1916 in Landsmeer (the Netherlands) specializes in farm fresh packaged potatoes. Agrico owns 100% of the Leo de Kock shares since 1998. In 2003, Leo de Kock invests in renovation and expansion. In 2010, the company has a modern washing and packaging station with fully computer-controlled machines. Ten years later in September 2020, a new modernized building was commissioned. Potatoes are processed in small daily quantities so that the consumer has super fresh potatoes. The potatoes are finding their way to stores, wholesalers and retail organizations.

You can read more about Leo de Kock on the website!

In 1994, Agrico merged with Wolf & Wolf. Due to bringing the Wolf & Wolf seed potato company into the fold, Agrico strengthened its position as seed potato supplier on the global market. Agrico was already the largest seed potato trading house before the merger with Wolf & Wolf, but, with Wolf & Wolf, Agrico grows from having 25% of the market share to having 35%.

During the merger with Wolf & Wolf, varieties from the Wolf & Wolf variety portfolio are added to the Agrico portfolio and these are being sold up to this day. The Diamant variety that also relocated during the merger is currently still a large export variety and is sold in countries such as Bangladesh and Yemen. The early variety, Premiere, also originates from this merger and is an important variety to this day.

In addition, BioSelect also became part of Agrico due to this merger. BioSelect is the brand that Agrico uses to sell its organic seed and ware potatoes. The organic branch is a relatively small part of Agrico, but is market leader in the Netherlands with regard to the organic sector with its organic potatoes.

Agrico entered the North American market in 1994 by establishing CanAgrico. In 2004, Parkland Seed Potatoes Ltd. in Edmonton, Alberta (Canada) took over CanAgrico activities. Parkland had already proved to be a constant factor in the sale of seed potato. Since 2004, cultivation has been increasing more and more.

Parkland Potatoes has been representing the Agrico varieties in North America for 25 years. In these 25 years, we have seen successful introductions such as Agata, Anouk, Constance and the successful variety Arizona that originates from the Agrico Research breeding ground.

You can read more about Parkland Potatoes on their website!

In 1995, the decision was taken to close the Agrico France S.A.R.L. sales office. Agrico decided to participate in the leading French company S.A. Desmazieres in Arras for the further operations on the French market. This company was, at that point in time, already a trusted Agrico business contact for many years.

Desmazieres has grown during the last few years into a large company with a total of 34 employees. In 2022, the company built a completely new building that includes many sustainable elements, which is a high priority for Desmazieres. The AgroEcoloNomics subject that focuses on sustainability in cultivation, business processes and variety development is present every day in the operations of Desmazieres.

Agrico has expanded its share in the French company down the years and is currently the full owner of the French company. The anniversary year of Agrico is also an anniversary year for our French company. The company has also been operational for 50 years in 2023.

In 1998, Agrico took over the seed potato cultivation and marketing activities of a British contact. The activities taken over were integrated by Agrico in the existing Agrico UK activities and it placed all of it under the management of Agrico UK Ltd. This Agrico subsidiary is established in Castleton of Eassie in Scotland. In 2023, Agrico UK is a company with more than 40 years of experience in the trade of certified seed potatoes.

You can read more about Agrico UK on the website!

CêlaVíta B.V. based in Wezep (the Netherlands) is a processing company that produces chilled potato products for retail and food service. The company was founded in 1967 to explore and develop new markets. Agrico already took over the remaining shares in 1970. As part of Agrico, CêlaVíta has become a concept in Dutch households down the years. In 2004, however, Agrico decided to critically examine its own company components, the mutual cohesion between them and the renovation of the administrative organizational structure. Based on this, the organization decided to sell its shares in CêlaVíta and to focus on the original activities: growing and marketing seed and ware potatoes. In August, 2005, Agrico sells its share in the CêlaVíta BV processing company.

In 2006, Agrico established 'Agrico Polska' in Poland. Agrico Polska cultivates and markets cultivated Agrico variety seed potatoes in Poland. In addition, the company is in charge of the import of seed potatoes for the Netherlands. During the years that follow, the company grows steadily and Agrico Polska manages to conquer a larger market share in Poland.

Agrico Polska's headquarters can be found in Lębork in the north of Poland. The company operates in all of Poland and is represented regionally by one of the three Sales Managers.

Agrico established a Youth Board in 2008 to involve young growers more in Agrico and to create a sounding board for the organization. This means that Agrico has an official platform where young potato growers and management can exchange ideas about strategy and services.

After the first successful edition of the Agrico youth day on May 22, 2008, no fewer than 17 youths signed up for the Youth Council. On June 27, 2008, the Management Board nominated the first Agrico Youth Council.

In 2022, the last Agrico youth day was organized during which 165 young Agrico growers came together to attend presentations, gain knowledge, to network and to enjoy an educational afternoon together with other young Agrico growers at the GeoFort in Herwijnen (the Netherlands).

In 2012, six local "business people of the year" fought it out to be the Flevopenningen top company. The panel of judges chose Agrico as the winner because Agrico is a strong cooperative organization that grows dozens of varieties for many countries and for all seasons in its own cultivation and research company and comes up with innovative solutions. With its roots firmly in the Noordoostpolder, the Dutch company has developed unique knowledge of its base product: the potato.  In addition, Agrico exports its seed potatoes to more than 75 countries spread over the entire world, which places Flevoland firmly on the map all over the globe and it develops in a responsible organic way whilst paying attention to people and the planet. The last issue mentioned in the panel's report was that Agrico grows and improves potatoes where the seed potato makes an important contribution to resolve the world food problem that is mainly affecting Asiatic countries.

During the national ''Kom in de Kas 2018'' (2018 Visit the Greenhouse) event, the research company in Bant (green village in the Netherlands) was given a place in the program. The public, growers and local stakeholders showed great interest in the new greenhouse complex with an area of approximately 4,000 square meters.

Two breeding stages have been achieved in the new greenhouse complex: the crossing stage and, a year later, the first generation of potatoes was obtained from those seeds. The following year, the potato will continue to be in the field for another nine years for further selection. Around fifteen years will have elapsed before a variety is actually introduced on the market.

Would you like more information about the activities that take place at Agrico Research?