KWS SAAT AG / Research Update
20.01.2010
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Joint press release January 20, 2010
KWS and BASF collaborate to develop high-yielding sugar beet
- 15 % higher yield and better drought tolerance through plant
biotechnology
- New varieties expected on the global market from 2020
Limburgerhof and Einbeck, Germany - January 20, 2010. BASF Plant Science
and KWS SAAT AG announced today a collaboration in plant biotechnology. The
objectives for the long-term project are developing sugar beet varieties
for the global market with higher sugar and energy yields as well as
greater drought tolerance. The partners aim to bring the new varieties with
15 % higher yields to the market from 2020 onwards.
'Within this cooperation, KWS and BASF will bundle their breeding and
biotechnology skills to develop genetically enhanced sugar beet. This shows
our company's clear commitment to the sugar beet crop and is a meaningful
addition to our classic plant breeding work,' said Dr. Günter Strittmatter,
Head of Research at KWS SAAT AG.
'This step will help strengthen our position on the global market. We are
aiming for increased yields of 15 %, which will make the cultivation of
sugar beet considerably more competitive and enable farmers to enjoy
further cost benefits. As a result, yields of 20 tons of sugar per hectare
will become standard,' added Dr. Peter Hofmann, Head of the Sugar Beet
Division at KWS.
'We are very happy to enter into this partnership with KWS, the market
leader in sugar beet and a global seed company,' said Marc Ehrhardt, Group
Vice President at BASF Plant Science. 'This agreement is another example of
BASF's strategy in plant biotechnology. As a technology partner to the seed
industry, we want to combine the best genetic traits with the best
germplasm in each crop. This will allow farmers around the world to benefit
from high-yielding varieties and thus gain efficiency,' he added.
Through the agreement, BASF Plant Science is expanding its biotechnology
work into the sugar beet industry. KWS is a leading global player in plant
breeding and world market leader in sugar beet seed. Last year, the company
achieved a market share of 70% in North America with genetically improved
herbicide resistant sugar beet varieties.
While BASF is bringing validated yield genes and plant biotechnology
know-how to the table, KWS is contributing experience in sugar beet
breeding through conventional and biotechnological methods and is
transferring the selected genes into the best varieties.
Financial details of the collaboration were not disclosed.
About KWS SAAT AG
KWS SAAT AG is one of the world's leading plant breeding companies. More
than 3200 employees in 70 countries generated in the fiscal 2008/09 net
sales of approx. EUR720 million. Main areas of its work are the breeding of
varieties and the production and sale of seed for sugar beet, corn,
cereals, potatoes and oil-seed rape for the temperate climates. 15 % of its
annual sales is invested in research and development. KWS uses
state-of-the-art plant breeding methods to continuously improve variety
yields and resistance to diseases, pests and abiotic stress. Further
information on KWS is available online at www.kws.com.
About BASF Plant Science
BASF Plant Science - a BASF group company - is one of the world's leading
companies providing innovative plant biotechnology solutions for
agriculture. Today, about 700 employees are helping farmers meet the
growing demand for improved agricultural productivity and healthier
nutrition for humans and animals. BASF Plant Science has developed an
unparalleled gene discovery platform focusing on yield and quality traits
in crops such as corn, soybean and rice. Jointly with leading partners in
the seed industry BASF Plant Science is commercializing its products.
Current projects include higher yielding row crops, nutritionally-enhanced
corn for animal feed or higher content of Omega-3's in oil crops for
preventing cardiovascular diseases. To find out more about BASF Plant
Science, please visit www.basf.com/plantscience.
Media Inquiries:
BASF Plant Science
Dr. Susanne Benner
Head of Communications
Phone: +49 621 60-28574
Fax: +49 621 60-27789
E-mail: susanne.benner@basf.com
KWS SAAT AG
Dr. Henning von der Ohe
Head of Corporate Development & Communication
Phone: +49-5561- 311245
Fax: +49-5561-31195245
E-mail: h.vonderohe@kws.com
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Language: English
Company: KWS SAAT AG
GrimsehlstraÃe 31
37574 Einbeck
Deutschland
Phone: +49 (0)5561 311-0
Fax: +49 (0)5561 311-322
E-mail: info@kws.com
Internet: www.kws.de
ISIN: DE0007074007
WKN: 707400
Indices: S-DAX
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard), Hannover;
Freiverkehr in Berlin, Düsseldorf, München, Hamburg,
Stuttgart
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DGAP-News: KWS SAAT AG: KWS and BASF collaborate to develop high-yielding sugar beet
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