The vegetable seeds department has around 50 members. These members are actively involved in breeding, cultivating, processing and/or trading vegetable seeds. The major breeding companies operate internationally or are part of an international concern. Breeding, seed production and marketing all take place in various locations in the world. Breeding companies are characterised by their highly knowledge intensive nature, and sizeable investments are made in Research and Development (15-20% of the turnover). A constant stream of new varieties with improved traits forms the basis of the entire vegetable chain. The result is a broad package of produce available in the shops and supermarkets.
 
There are a number of committees active within the department. The vegetable seeds research committee co-ordinates joint projects and input for research conducted externally. The social affairs committee is responsible for concluding the Collective Labour Agreements (CLA) for garden seed companies. The aim of the CLA for garden seed companies is to create a framework within which the individual companies define the collective labour agreements in greater detail. The work group Integrated vegetable seeds companies determines the Dutch position in the field of product specifications, the use of disease codes and export related developments. There are also a number of technical working groups occupied with seed technology, crop protection and specific research projects focussing on resistance breeding.
 
Due to the international orientation of the sector, the department devotes a great deal of attention to advocating the interests of the sector internationally. Plantum is therefore affiliated to the European Seed Association (ESA) and International Seed Federation (ISF).