KWS Saat

KWS Saat SE & Co. KGaA (commonly referred to as KWS) is a German-based, independent seed company. It is one of the world's leading seed producers and focuses on breeding, production, and sale of seeds for various crops, including sugar beet, corn, cereals, oilseed rape, and sunflowers. The company's research and development activities play a significant role in its global competitiveness.

KWS's history dates back to 1856 when Matthias Christian Rabbethge founded a sugar beet seed breeding company in Klein Wanzleben, Germany. Over the years, the company expanded its crop portfolio and established a global presence through subsidiaries and partnerships. KWS maintains a strong focus on innovation and sustainable agriculture practices.

The company is structured as a Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien (KGaA), a German form of partnership limited by shares. The family Rabbethge and Giesecke families remain significant shareholders in the company. KWS is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: KWS).

KWS operates across several business segments, each focusing on a specific crop. These segments include sugar beet, corn, cereals, oilseed rape/sunflower, and vegetables. Within each segment, the company develops and markets improved seed varieties that are adapted to different growing conditions and offer enhanced yield, disease resistance, and other desirable traits.

KWS is committed to sustainable agriculture and invests in research to develop seed varieties that require fewer resources, such as water and fertilizer. The company also works to promote responsible farming practices among its customers.