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KWS Group

@kwsgroup.bsky.social
468 followers 133 following 301 posts

Developing innovative & sustainable crops with leading-edge plant breeding methods in more than 70 countries worldwide. Tradition of family ownership and independence for 170 years. 🔗 www.kws.com

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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
🌱 New review highlights how next-generation #CRISPR and #GenomeEditing tools can help overcome key breeding bottlenecks and accelerate the development of climate-smart sugarbeet varieties. 👉 www.frontiersin.org/journals/pla...
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Last week at #ThePopUp2026 in Andijk, we had the pleasure of welcoming Ian Pieplenbosch from Plantum 🌱 Together with our wonderful and highly experienced colleagues, we explored spinach, red beet and Swiss chard breeding. Fresh conversations, fresh insights! 🥬💚
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Open science for plant breeding 🌱 Researchers successfully used OpenCRISPR-1, and AI-designed open-source editing system, in soybean. Tools with broader access could mean faster innovation 👇 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Climate resilience is #FoodSecurity. In #SOTEU2026, Ursula von der Leyen announced a European Water Initiative, a Climate Insurance Alliance and measures to close the agricultural insurance gap, while reaffirming support for farmers facing droughts and heatwaves. commission.europa.eu/document/dow...
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Disease resistance is a key focus in plant breeding 🌱 By identifying and combining plants’ natural strengths, our breeders develop varieties that are better equipped to remain healthy under changing disease pressure.
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Do you know how bananas and aubergines looked like before #plantbreeding helped shape them into the foods we enjoy today? Euroseeds shows us 👇 www.linkedin.com/posts/plantb...
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
🌱 Phytophthora root rot is a major threat to soybean production. Researchers in China used #CRISPR #GenomeEditing to validate the role of a gene involved in the plant's natural disease resistance, supporting future crop improvement. 🔗 www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/15...
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
🌾 Why does it take so long to develop a new plant variety? Plant breeding always starts with diversity. Our breeders work with a wide range of plant material, combining valuable traits through years of crossing, selection and field testing.
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
🍓 From small, delicate wild ancestors to a globally important crop: breeding has shaped the strawberry for centuries. Today, breeders are helping it cope with increasing heat, drought and disease. From @plants4thefuture.bsky.social
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
🍅 More resilient tomatoes, healthier spinach & tastier peas? At the KWS Gateway Research Center in the US, our colleague Elizabeth Frick uses genome editing to develop better vegetables. Read the story: ow.ly/l0La50ZwzkF #insidekws #plantbreeding
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
The European Commission’s Health & Food Safety DG highlights that EU’s updated #NGTs framework will help bring important innovations from #GenomeEditing to the field. 🥔 One example: disease-resistant potatoes that could reduce fungicide use by up to 80%. lnkd.in/p/dpnJCTS2
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
We thank MEP Stefano Bonaccini for visiting our Forlì site. Together with Giuseppe Carli, Alessia Cogliandro, Alberto Lipparini (Assosementi) & KWS colleagues, we exchanged views on the challenges facing Italy’s sugar beet sector & the contribution of KWS to the local agricultural value chain.
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
🌱 Climate resilience starts in the seed This book chapter gives a good overview of how researchers use #CRISPR #GenomeEditing to strengthen crops against drought, heat, pests & diseases - supporting stable harvests under our changing conditions. ow.ly/oFLA50ZjAag
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
🎉 204 years after his birth, Gregor Mendel is still influencing plant breeding. The observations of a pioneer scientist at a monastery garden helped lay the foundation that we plant breeders still rely on. And we certainly share his fascination with peas! 🫛
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
🍉🌞 Summer is here in the northern hemisphere and watermelon is back on our tables! But did you know it traces its origins to the wild Tsamma melon of the Kalahari Desert? Through centuries of selection, it evolved into the sweet, juicy fruit we enjoy today. ow.ly/7Zgq50ZjBym
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
From Plants for the Future ETP: Did you know wild soybeans once had exploding pods that scattered seeds metres away? 🫘 🌱 Through centuries of selection and breeding, soybean became a global staple and key source of plant protein. ow.ly/JK6c50ZjzsL
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
🌱 NGT Regulations adopted in the EU – what’s next? Over the next two years, the delegated and implementing acts will define the framework, bringing #GenomeEditing closer to practice in Europe. Read more: www.kws.com/corp/en/inno...
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
What does the new EU framework on #NGTs mean for us at KWS? ➡️ After yesterday’s approval in the European Parliament, a two-year phase starts to prepare implementation. 🌱 Then: faster development of more resource-efficient, climate-tolerant crop varieties. ow.ly/ipG150Ze5UV
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
🌱 A big step for plant breeding in Europe The EU has approved the #NGT Regulation — creating “clear conditions for applying modern breeding approaches”, says our CEO Felix Büchting. A step towards more resource‑efficient, sustainable agriculture 🌎 Our Press release: www.kws.com/corp/en/medi...
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
🌱New insight into early plant development Rice University researchers used #CRISPR #GenomeEditing in model plant Arabidopsis, to understand how seedlings use stored energy before photosynthesis. 👉 news.rice.edu/news/2025/ri...
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
🌳 Researchers at the Beijing Forestry University optimized #CRISPR #GenomeEditing technique for poplar. Tree genome editing methods are important in forestry research, especially under climate change. 👉 doi.org/10.1016/j.in...
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
🥒🌞 Juicy, crispy summer cucumbers are the best! But cucumber has come a long way. From tiny, bitter fruits on thorny vines to smooth and mild salad ingredients on our plate - check out the story of @plants4thefuture.bsky.social 👇 www.linkedin.com/posts/made-b...
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
🌱 New @seedfed.bsky.social guideline on social responsibility in the seed sector is out! A practical, voluntary guide to strengthen responsible labor practices, boost awareness & build capacity across seed value chains. worldseed.org/our-work/sus...
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
🫛 Peas form root nodules that allow them to obtain nitrogen through a symbiosis with soil bacteria. Researchers used #CRISPR #GenomeEditing to knock-out and identify the gene that is essential for the symbiosis 👇 www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiote...
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
One of our favorites 🌽 The story of corn breeding shows how selection turned hard, inedible kernels into a flexible crop, grown across environments, tolerating drought, and serving many purposes today🍿 By @plants4thefuture.bsky.social www.linkedin.com/posts/made-b...
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
🥔 @agroscope.bsky.social is field-testing potatoes developed with #GenomeEditing to resist late blight. The project aims at reducing fungicide use and stabilizing yields as weather extremes increase 🌦️ www.agroscope.admin.ch/en/newnsb/GI...
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
🌾What can #CRISPR deliver in cereals today? This new review summarizes progress and focuses on 'complex' traits like yield stability, stress tolerance, and improved grain quality. 🔗 oar.icrisat.org/13601/
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
At an Italian Senate event on #NGTs yesterday, Assosementi President Giuseppe Carli highlighted NGTs as a key lever for agri‑food competitiveness - speeding the development of sustainable, high‑quality and safe crop varieties 🌾
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
🎉Our KWS colleague Gamze Alagöz was named one of Europe’s Most Promising Young Plant Breeders by @seedworldeu.bsky.social! Gamze uses her strong scientific background and field experience to enable more efficient, sustainable breeding. Congratulations 🥳 🔗 www.seedworld.com/europe/2026/...
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
🍌 New @plants4thefuture.bsky.social series starts with banana: From wild ancestor to modern crop - how human selection shaped our food, and why continued breeding supports climate resilience and disease resistance 🌍 🔗 www.linkedin.com/posts/plants...
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
🍅 Less food waste, better tomatoes? Researchers at CRAG used #CRISPR #GenomeEditing to better understand how ripening speed is controlled, potentially enabling breeding for longer shelf life and improved fruit quality, beyond ethylene‑based approaches. www.cragenomica.es/crag-news/26...
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 05/04/2026
Spring brings us Easter traditions and shared meals across cultures. 🌾 Wheat and other crops are part of these stories — and plant breeding helps keep them resilient. Wishing everyone a peaceful season 🐣
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
Traditional breeding methods have limits, and transgenic tools face regulatory barriers. Transgene‑free #GenomeEditing with #CRISPR offers a more precise path to improved crops 🌱 Check out the review 👉 ow.ly/9yEt50YzxqW
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
‘Super‑pangenomes’ could provide new tools for a warming climate 🌍 A new review maps how these datasets reveal hidden crop diversity, helping breeders develop more climate‑tolerant, productive varieties. 👉 ow.ly/wLSV50YzbvY
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
🌾How seed innovation supports better animal nutrition: Our KWS SEED2FEED team is working on solutions for more sustainable feed, which is also good for animal welfare🐄 📄 Read the whole story: www.insidekws.com/seed2feed-25/
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
Pesticide reduction ranks highest for Spanish consumers when evaluating benefits of #CRISPR #GenomeEditing tomatoes, followed by water saving and health. 🍅💧 Two preference groups appear: sustainability focused and health/taste focused. 🔗 link.springer.com/article/10.1...
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
💮🥬 Using #GenomeEditing #CRISPR in petunia and lettuce, researchers fine‑tuned the regulation of terpenoids that are important for pollinators, flavor and fragrance. 📄International Journal of Molecular Science: doi.org/10.3390/ijms...
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
🌾Curious about the latest safety insights on plant NGTs? EFSA’s new horizon scan reviews recent scientific literature and finds no new hazards or risks. 👇 efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2903/...
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
🌟“Science needs your brilliance.” Today, on #WomenAndGirlsInScience Day, we celebrate our KWS colleagues Khadija Sabir & Sandra Dunckel, whose paths from Punjab and Switzerland into plant science show different ways to shape the future of agriculture. 🌱 www.insidekws.com/khadija-25
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 04/02/2026
🌱 More nutritious, safer, and more resilient cassava? #GenomeEditing is helping scientists boost cassava’s nutritional content, reduce toxins and improve disease resistance. Check out the recent review in Tropical Plants: maxapress.com/data/article...
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
📣 ENVI has approved the compromise on the #NGTs Regulation - a key step toward final adoption! We welcome the broad support and calls for swift implementation to boost EU innovation and food security. Read more in the Euroseeds press release 👇 euroseeds.eu/app/uploads/...
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
Editing perennial crops can be slow and complex. This study presents a base #GenomeEditing approach that enables transgene‑free improvements in citrus and poplar, potentially boosting faster and more efficient breeding. 🌳 👉 rd.springer.com/content/pdf/...
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 19/01/2026
🧬 Access to #CRISPR #GenomeEditing tools from Pairwise will help non-profit research organisation @cimmyt.bsky.social speed up the breeding of climate-resilient crops for smallholder farmers in 20+ countries, thus supporting food security 🌍 👉 news.agropages.com/News/NewsDet...
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
A nice recap from EU Health & Food Safety: why is December’s agreement on #NGTs so important, and what does it mean in practice 👇 www.linkedin.com/posts/eu-hea...
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 02/01/2026
🍽️ Healthier oils for sustainable diets? #GenomeEditing offers new ways to improve oil composition in crops. Read the review here: ow.ly/8Vaq50XMvOx
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 29/12/2025
🙌 9 out of 9 points! For everyone as passionate about breeding as us, this quiz is a nice way to test your knowledge of where some of our well-known fruits and vegetables originated. Try the Gene Sprout Initiative's quiz and see how well you do 😉 🔗 ow.ly/40vY50XMtbZ
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 24/12/2025
🌱 Every farmer feeds 150 people. 2025 has once again shown how important the work of farmers is - together, we’re driving progress in sustainable agriculture and breeding innovation. 🌟 We wish you joyful holidays and a great start to 2026!
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 22/12/2025
Ever wondered how your Christmas tree is grown? 🎄 Breeders work year-round to create varieties that thrive in today’s conditions. It takes 8–9 years for a tree to reach the perfect height and shape. Next time you decorate, remember the dedication behind every tree. ✨ Merry Christmas! ✨
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
AI can help advance more accurate and cost-effective #GenomeEditing – from optimized tissue culture protocols to data-driven CRISPR models. Check out the review article in Frontiers of Plant Science 👇 www.frontiersin.org/journals/pla...
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KWS Group @kwsgroup.bsky.social · 02/12/2025
🌾 Using #CRISPR to knock out certain genes, researchers developed rice that was more susceptible to sheath blight and other infections. By shedding light to the mechanisms of disease resistance, the study paves way to the development of resistant rice varieties. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
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