#10 Similar in nature but not in detail – entering the vegetable business

The world of vegetables is not only quite fascinating, vegetables
are also very healthy. The WHO recommends eating at least 400g of
fruit and vegetables a day. What's more, Vegetables are key to an
environmentally friendly diet. Accordingly, vegetables and thus
also seeds for vegetables play a growing economic role all over the
world. Reason enough for KWS to further diversify its portfolio and
become part of this market. In 2019, the company announced its
entry into the vegetable market – on the one hand with the
acquisition of the Dutch company Pop Vriend, leading in spinach
seed, and on the other with the long-term, organic development of a
new business unit with various vegetable crops. How do you develop
a business unit from scratch? How does vegetable breeding differ
from other areas in which KWS is active? And what traits are
particularly relevant for customers along the value chain? Together
with Simon Walter and Coert Engels we explore these and other
questions. Simon Walter joined KWS as Head of Business Development
Corn in 2019. After various management roles he moved into his
current role as Head of the newly founded Vegetables Business Unit
in mid of 2023. Coert Engels started at KWS in the same year. As
Global Head of Breeding Vegetables he is responsible for the
breeding strategy and the breeding departments and farm
organizations in the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Turkey, Mexico and
Brazil.