“We are delighted about this success. The figures are clear proof of the continuous advances in KWS oilseed rape breeding,” says Dr. Andrea Richter, who leads the oilseed rape Busines at KWS. “In recent years in particular, we have been able to bring a host of high-performing varieties with truly unique and innovative genetics to market, which help ensure profitable cultivation of oilseed rape in Europe.”
Kynetec’s figures demonstrate that impressively. The market shares of KWS varieties in Hungary, Germany, and France are 27 percent, 38 percent, and 23 percent, respectively. In Germany, KWS VAMOS is also the best-selling variety – it accounts for 13 percent of the country’s cultivated land.
Against the backdrop of increasing regulation in pesticides, the effects of climate change, and society’s demand for more sustainable agriculture, resistance breeding has now become a key objective of KWS oilseed rape breeding. Valid examples include the development of Phoma resistance, in which new gene combinations and additional sources of resistance have successfully been integrated into high-yielding varieties over several stages. Other forward-looking milestones are varieties with resistance to clubroot and improved nitrogen efficiency (N-ADAPT). The InsectPROTECT varieties from KWS offer genetic protection against infestation by cabbage stem flea beetle larvae. As early as 2020, the renowned French institute Terres Inovia published scientific data showing that these varieties have clearly outperformed other competing varieties and show less infestation.
These genetic innovation steps are also clearly reflected in how the performance of KWS varieties has evolved. Over the past ten years, there has been steady progress of 1.5 percent per year in terms of yield and oil content. This progress is driven by a clear and long-term investment strategy. Around 15 percent of oilseed rape sales revenue is reinvested in research and development. Between the 2020/2021 and 2023/2024 fiscal years alone, the breeding budget rose by about 60 percent within three years.
Andrea Richter: “Our successes show that plant breeding is a key factor in addressing challenges such as climate change, population growth, conserving natural resources, and reducing chemical pesticides. They encourage us to continue working on varieties that combine resistance with high yield.”
Further information KWS hybrid oilseed rape
