KWS corn varieties are impressive even under difficult conditions

Einbeck, February 28, 2020

Even with weather conditions posing a challenge for corn cultivation over the last two years, KWS proved successful in this year’s approval trials with two new intermediate varieties. This means the company has again clearly underscored its leading market position in the silage corn segment within Germany.

The new variety KWS OTTO offers a compelling new option with its high, good-quality silage corn yields. And it is worth noting that KWS OTTO demonstrates excellent performance in both biogas production and biogas yield. It was the only new approval to receive the rating of 7 for the attribute biogas production. “KWS OTTO has the potential to become a leading variety in our silage corn portfolio,” says Philip Jung, who heads marketing for KWS’s Corn Unit in Germany. “The variety sets new benchmarks in the area of biogas and is also well suited for feed thanks to its good quality characteristics.” The stable and sturdy variety is appropriate for cultivation in all regions of Germany.

The second newly approved variety, KWS JARO, has demonstrated — also under stress — robust performance both in silage and grain corn in the difficult testing years of 2018 and 2019. For both kinds of uses, the variety delivers high to very high yields as well as good standing power. As an all-rounder, KWS JARO is particularly suitable for operations that want to flexibly run their businesses.

In terms of cultivation conditions that could change regionally in the long term due to the weather situation, KWS is systematically expanding its segment in late silage corn and grain corn cultivation. A total of four promising varieties from KWS will be assessed in the EU testing for biogas and grain corn in 2020: KWS SHAKO, KWS ADAPTICO, KWS ANTONIO and KWS INTELIGENS. In other EU countries as well as in KWS’s own trials in Germany, these varieties’ performances hold much promise. They could prove to be a real alternative for the future, in particular for warmer locations in Germany.

About KWS*
KWS is one of the world’s leading plant breeding companies. In the fiscal year 2018/19, more than 5,500 employees in 70 countries generated net sales of EUR 1.1 billion and earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of EUR 150 million. A company with a tradition of family ownership, KWS has operated independently for more than 160 years. It focuses on plant breeding and the production and sale of seed for corn, sugarbeet, cereals, rapeseed, sunflowers and vegetables. KWS uses leading-edge plant breeding methods to increase farmers’ yields and to improve resistance to diseases, pests and abiotic stress. To that end, the company invested approximately EUR 200 million last fiscal year in research and development.

*All indications excluding the results from the companies accounted for using the equity method AGRELIANT GENETICS LLC, AGRELIANT GENETICS INC. and KENFENG – KWS SEEDS CO., LTD.

For more information: www.kws.com. Follow us on Twitter®.

Philip Jung
Philip Jung
Head of Corn marketing, Germany
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Britta Weiland
Britta Weiland
Corporate Communications
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