Research

Without scientifically validated working techniques and qualified staff, successful plant breeding today is inconceivable. DSV employs more than 80 staff at its seed breeding and testing stations, so that almost a quarter of its workforce is made up of scientists and science technicians. Spending on research and development accounts for approximately 12 % of turnover. The stations are equipped with state of the art facilities such as climate-controlled chambers and completely automated greenhouses, as well as laboratories and appropriate technical equipment including electronic evaluation systems for work in the areas of quality-related analytical chemistry, cell and tissue techniques, and isoenzyme and marker analyses.

DSV traditionally maintains close contacts with many research facilities in Germany and other countries. These contacts have frequently led to joint research and development activities, so that DSV is actively advancing new, trail-blazing developments in the field of breeding research through various projects networked with German and other research institutions and firms.

New attribute variants and/or new methods and techniques for breeding varieties are developed in these projects. With the aid of the results and progress achieved, particularly in the area of molecular and cell biology, DSV and its partners have been able to distinctly expand their spectrum of breeding methods and improve the efficiency of variety development.