Jobs, Growth, Competitiveness
Better, high-quality plant varieties are the starting point of all food production. They play a pivotal role in supporting the economic sustainability of Europe’s farms and the entire agri-food value chain.
Better, high-quality plant varieties are the starting point of all food production. They play a pivotal role in supporting the economic sustainability of Europe’s farms and the entire agri-food value chain.
Jobs
Europe’s plant breeding companies employ more than 50,000 people directly, thereby providing jobs and career opportunities to many highly skilled people in rural areas. With the sector’s R&I rate at around 15% of its annual turnover, more than a third of these employees work in research and development. Through its wide network of seed producers, dedicated machinery companies, logistics and conditioning service providers, plant breeding – both directly and indirectly – supports the growth and competitiveness of a vibrant agriculture and Europe’s rural economies.
Growth
The worldwide commercial seed market is estimated at a value of around 50 billion EUR of which Europe has a 20% share, thereby showing the economic importance of the region. With around 25% of all commercial seed used worldwide traded internationally, the seed sector is truly a global one. Still, with a large number of world-class plant breeding companies based here, Europe is not only a large market but is also one of the largest exporters and importers of seed worldwide.
Competitiveness
To stay competitive, Europe’s plant breeders re-invest a large part of their annual turnover back into new research and product development programmes, they also make full use of the latest plant breeding methods and scientific advances to be even more precise and quick to respond to specific customer demands and market needs.
The sector is characterized by a multitude of collaborations and cooperation agreements to speed up product development and address specific markets. Indeed, almost all companies make use of the counter-season in the southern hemisphere to advance breeding and production programmes or test specific varieties under varying local conditions.
