About us

Plant Breeding For Successful Agriculture  

Our product is the result of progressive plant breeding. Our goals are to continually develop new, better varieties and to produce quality seeds. To this end we concentrate on cereals, pulses and catch crops.

Our employees work together in breeding, production and distribution under one roof.
As a European-wide operating company with more than 250 employees we look back on 120 years of experience in breeding.

By using a progressive and relevant research and breeding programme we develop varieties to meet market and environmental requirements. The focus of our operations are both the requirements of our customers; farmers, trade and industry and also the consumer who has a right to healthy, naturally produced food.

KWS LOCHOW GmbH is based in Germany and a member of the KWS Cereals Division. Close corporation with the European subsidiaries in Great Britain and Poland; an associated company in France and other foreign partners provide us with the ability to be ever more innovative and an increasingly important player in the world's agricultural markets.

Steady Advance is the Measure of all Things

KWS LOCHOW varieties represent progress in both breeding and agricultural methodology. As a specialist in cereals and pulses, all research and development activities are dedicated to a common aim, to develop high-performance and market-tailored varieties; and to then efficiently produce and market them. The tools applied are a mixture of experience, research, innovation and practical field work. This work is carried out at internal breeding stations, breeding nurseries, biotech laboratories as well as through joint research projects with renowned Institutes of Agriculture and Universities.
By virtue of our close contact with the agriculture and food industries, future and current practice requirements, as well as regional differences, are incorporated into developments.

That way we again and again succeed in substantially improving the yield, resistance and adaptability of our varieties.

It takes more than ten years until a new variety that has been comprehensively tested and officially approved is allowed to enter the market. KWS LOCHOW range of varieties is a reflection of the state-of-the-art technology involved in today's grain breeding. 

Communication leads to Success

Transparency and fairness are substantial principles of our company. Information and communication is the core of all business relations.

Our employees represent the competence and quality of the Company. Combining both knowledge and an ability to communicate they advise on-farm, at processing plants, with authorities and sales partners.

As well as the obvious methods of communication, through trade media and the world-wide web, important contacts can be made during variety presentations at Open Days, and in one-to-one meetings.

Much of this gathered information can then be used when developing new products. 

Our Aim - Maximum Quality

A strict quality management at all stages of the breeding and production process underlines our commitment to make high-performance varieties and certified seed of best quality available for the farmer. Various measures for quality assurance have been integrated:

• Since 1991, the seed processing operations cooperating with us (300,000 ha hybrid rye acreage in Germany) have been competing against each other in the quality competition "Hybrid rye processing".
• 1998, the quality management was certified according to DIN EN ISO 9002 for production and sale.
• The quality competition was extended to the field production of  KWS LOCHOW direct multiplication operations in 1999/2000.
• Since the autumn season 2002, the seed laboratory of KWS LOCHOW GmbH, Bergen has been independently carrying out the quality inspection for certified seed of winter rye. For the first time in Germany, a so-called "private laboratory" determines nation-wide the data for the respective certification authorities, which are further responsible for official certification.
• Since 1 July 2004 the seed laboratory of KWS LOCHOW GmbH has been independently certified to carry out the quality inspection for certified seed of all cereals, field peas and field beans.
• In 2004 the quality management was certified according to DIN EN ISO 9001:2000 for the whole company.
• In 2007 re-certification acc. to DIN EN ISO 9001:2000.
• In 2010 re-certification acc. to DIN EN ISO 9001:2008.

All measures serve to further improve and assure the seed quality. KWS LOCHOW intentionally takes up the responsibility for the seed quality at all stages of production including our certified seed customers.