P
lant breeding unfolds over seasons, decades and, in 
some cases, generations. At KWS, the timeline stretches 
back 170 years. From the beginning, the company has 
been defined by a clear focus on seed and breeding, driven by 
scientific excellence, long-term thinking and close collabora­
tion with farmers. This perspective continues to influence how 
KWS approaches research, innovation and market development 
today — including in North America.
From Sugar Production to a Leader in Plant Breeding
The KWS story begins with entrepreneurial German farmer 
Matthias Christian Rabbethge, who recognized the potential 
of the emerging beet sugar industry. In 1856, he acquired a 
majority stake in a sugar beet factory in the small town of Klein 
Wanzleben, laying the foundation for what would later become 
KWS. As plant breeding gradually became its core business, 
KWS expanded across crops and regions, moving beyond sugar 
beet into cereals, corn, oilseeds and vegetables. Today, the 
company runs breeding programs in more than 20 crops and 
operates commercially in over 70 countries. Within this global 
footprint, North America is an important and growing market.
Heritage Driving 
What Comes Next
How KWS applies generations of breeding discipline to today’s 
challenges and opportunities in North American agriculture. 
By Aimee Nielson, Seed World U.S. Editor
10  / SEEDWORLD.COM  JUNE 2026

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