KWS opens phytopathology research hub in Spain to boost disease-resistant vegetable breeding

KWS Vegetables has launched a new phytopathology hub in Murcia to accelerate the development of disease-resistant seed varieties for key vegetable crops. The facility is part of the company’s ongoing investment in its young Vegetables business unit and a broader global effort to support growers with resilient, high-performing seed solutions.

The newly inaugurated center focuses on tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, melons, and watermelons. It houses a team of seven specialists and includes laboratory and office space, phytotrons, and a greenhouse—another is scheduled for completion next year. The 3,000-square-meter site is also equipped with a 110-kWh rooftop photovoltaic system to supply sustainable energy to the facility.

“Our new phytopathology station serves as a central hub for plant pathology research on our fruit vegetable crops,” said Daniel Jimenez, Head of Crop Pathology at KWS Vegetables. “It will enable us to respond even more quickly, agilely and appropriately to challenges in vegetable cultivation in the future.”

Murcia now becomes KWS’s second major R&D base for vegetables in Spain, alongside its site in Almería. The location was selected for its proximity to real-world disease pressure, which allows for faster research cycles and targeted breeding. KWS began operating a breeding station on the 17-hectare Murcia site in 2023.

KWS entered the vegetable seeds sector in 2019 and is pursuing a long-term strategy that combines licensing, acquisitions, and organic expansion. The company now maintains ten vegetable breeding and research locations across six countries: the Netherlands, Brazil, Spain, Turkey, Italy, and Mexico. It aims to introduce new varieties for its nine-crop vegetable portfolio within the next three years.

Headquartered in Germany, KWS operates in over 70 countries and generated approximately €1.68 billion (about US $1.96 billion) in sales in the 2023/2024 fiscal year. The company invested more than €300 million (about US $351 million) in research and development over the same period.