‘crop protection 2030: what does it mean for seeds?’ · bejo zaden advances in research marker...

Seed Meets Technology

‘Crop Protection 2030:what does it mean for seeds?’Laurens Kroon, Bejo, Head of Research

EXPLORING SINCE

GrocerJacob Jongstarts in seed trade

Collaboration in new breedingtechniques starts(Hybridisation)

MergerCor Beemsterboer & Jacob Jong become Bejo Zaden

Advances in research markertechnology

Baker’s son Cor Beemsterboerstarts in seed trade

Expansion and establishmentof Bejo in Europe

Acquisitionof Agrisemen a lettuce breeding company

► 1800 employeesworldwide

► Broad assortment50 crops, 1200 varieties

► Organic program50 crops, 190 varieties

► Breeding, production & sales around the world

TODAY

Bejo assortment

LEAF CROPS

FRUIT CROPS

ALLIUM

ROOTED CROPS

BRASSICAS

VARIETY DEVELOPMENT

3 YEARS

10 -15 YEARS

VARIETY DEVELOPMENT CYCLE

MarketIdentification

Development ProcessBreeding Research

Testing field trialsWith customers

Seed Production

& Processing

Market

Introduction

THE WORLD OF BEJO

Breeding stations

THE WORLD OF BEJO

Sales activities

THE WORLD OF BEJO

WarmenhuizenT h e N e t h e r l a n d s

► Quality control, processing and storage of globally produced Bejo seed

► Research Center

► Resilience in both crops and crop systems

► Agri/horticulture and the environment are linked

► Aim to strive for zero emission to the environment and virtually zero residue on produce

CROP PROTECTION 2030

► Resilience in both crops and crop systems▪ Breeding for resistance is an integral part of

our Breeding program



• Breeding for qualitative resistance is a rat race

• Reduce the development time to cut time to market

• Marker Assisted Breeding and Speed Breeding


• Breeding for qualitative resistance is a rat race

• Reduce the development time to cut time to market

• Marker Assisted Breeding and Speed Breeding

• Breeding for quantitative traits is even more challenging!


► Breeding for quantitative traits▪ Resistance for many soilborne diseases is

difficult to achieve ▪ Also breeding for resilience/stress tolerance

is not easy▪ Uniform distribution of the pathogen or

stress-factor in the trial field is challenging▪ Many loci with a small additive effect on the

trait of interest, challenge to combine with quality


• Use of Drone data in the Breeding process to tackle quantitative traits

• Linking Phenotypic data to Genotypic data

• Use of Biostatistics to identify associations between markers and traits


► New Breeding Techniques▪ Gene editing is mentioned as a new tool to

use in resistance breeding



use in resistance breeding▪ CRISPR-Cas9 can change specific code in a

gene of interest, with no side effects





▪ One of the most promising applications is in the

editing of S-genes






editing of S-genes

▪ These susceptibility genes code for a doorway that

allows a pathogen to enter a plant cel






editing of S-genes



▪ If you brick up this doorway, you can prevent

infection, without negative impact on the plant






editing of S-genes



▪ If you brick up this doorway, you can prevent

infection, without negative impact on the plant

▪ This is a durable form of resistance!


► Example: mildew resistance in wheat


our Breeding program▪ Breeding for Organic vs Organic Breeding?


Bejo Organic Program

ORGANIC RIGHT FROM THE START

► Over 20 years of extensive knowledge and experience

► Innovative seed treatments and improved cultivation practices

► New varieties, developed from our broad genetic base, supported with the latest technologies for natural breeding

ORGANIC RIGHT FROM THE START


our Breeding program▪ Breeding for Organic or Organic Breeding?▪ Healthy seeds give a good start


From Healthy seeds to Healthy Seedlings

Healthy seeds

Healthy soils

Disease - free

In Balance/ Robust

On Site Detection

Measuring Xanthomonas

infections during seed production

of cabbage

Location of infection

Superficial contamination

Deep seated infection

Deep seated embryonic infection

Disinfection

TreatedUntreated

Bees and BejoNatural partners in production of vegetable seeds

Bees are strategically important for Bejo:

► Honey bees: champions in pollination for 80% of our crops.

► Without pollination, no seeds.

► Bee mortality and bee health are a global concern.

Fungicides in Seed Coating

2005 2018 2020 Future

Alternatives

Fludioxonil

Metalaxyl

Seedlings are vulnerableBeet – Rhizoctonia example

Dis

ea

sed

Pla

nts

100%

50%

25%

0%

wk 0 wk 2 wk 4 wk 6 wk 8 wk 10

Plant AgeRhizoctonia Attack

Liu 2019, North Dakota State University, USA

► The Ministry Vision for Crop Protection 2030 largely fits our own long term vision

► New developments in Seed Technology and Breeding support the higher demands that follow from this program

► But the world is bigger than Holland alone

► Even in Europe, there is no level playing field, and member states are drifting apart with rules and regulations

► Resistance breeding and resilient crops alone are not enough (yet) to combat soil borne diseases

► New breeding techniques like CRISPR-Cas gene editing can be a valuable (or even indispensable) tool to breed for resilient crops

► Cutting down the available chemistry limits the options to combat challenging diseases, and may limit the farmers in yield stability

Exploring nature never stops

‘crop protection 2030: what does it mean for seeds?’ · bejo zaden advances in research marker...

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