Innovation in plant breeding depends on strong partnerships – across academia, industry and politics. Our new Phytopathology Center in Einbeck is a good example of what can be achieved when these come together. Thank you to all partners who contributed to this important milestone.
Yesterday, we marked the topping-out ceremony of our new 𝗣𝗵𝘆𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 (𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿) in Einbeck. This new building is an important milestone for us as KWS Group – and a very tangible step in strengthening our research capabilities. With an investment of around €25 million, we are creating the framework for our teams to keep analyzing and understanding plant diseases and translate this knowledge into more resilient crop varieties. The topic itself may sound quite technical, but it is highly relevant: plant diseases are a major cause of yield losses, and their impact is increasing with changing climate conditions and evolving pathogens. Developing tolerances and resistances is therefore key to supporting farmers and ensuring stable harvests. What matters most to me is what this project stands for. It reflects our long-term perspective as a family company, our heartbeat for science, and our strong link to our home here in Einbeck and the wider Lower Saxony region. At the same time, a day like yesterday is very much about people. My sincere thanks go to all construction partners, teams and colleagues who are bringing this project to life – and to all the participants from academia, science and politics who joined us to celebrate this milestone and discuss the relevance of phytopathology in more detail. Personally, I feel both grateful and confident: grateful for the collaboration and dedication behind this project, and confident that it will help us continue to deliver on our company vision: 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. Prof. Dr. Frank Ordon, Rosa Lozano Durán, Alexey Mikaberidze, Wolfgang Brück, Axel Schölmerich, Frank Doods, Frauke Heiligenstadt, René Kopka, Stephanie Franck, Prof. Dr. Jochen Reif, Prof. Dr. Anne-Katrin Mahlein, Dr. Sabine Michalek, Michael Lühmann #Letstalkbreeding #seedingthefuture #celebreed170
