Participant highlighted: Schoneveld Breeding

Who are we?
Schoneveld Breeding is a breeding company of seed propagated flowering pot plants. In breeding, besides ornamental value, we have a strong focus on breeding on those aspects which make the flowering plants more sustainable to grow and better to market. We develop new varieties that require less inhibitors and chemicals, are heat and ethylene tolerant and, by offering product-market combinations to retailers, generate better earnings for our chain partners.

When did you join Breeding Accel?
Together with KP Holland, we are the founders of Breeding Accel in 2010. Our goal at the time was legal cooperation and protecting our industry from the monopoly position of large breeding companies on plant (trait) patents.

After the patent claims took a back seat (EU), we started to exchange more and more knowledge and information in the field of breeding and research. This was possible without any reservations, because the two companies (KP Holland and Schoneveld Breeding) do not have competing crops. Soon, more companies joined with other ornamental crops, but also vegetable and fruit crops. The added value of this, is that you can share knowledge and experiences without threat of your developed intellectual property being used by your competitor.

The power of collaboration
The joint construction and development of a molecular laboratory, in which laboratory technicians from the various companies conduct their research alternately, creates a lot of exchange of ideas and solutions at the coffee table in the (common) canteen. This makes working together really work together!

Future & innovation
By using each other's knowledge, facilities and network, Breeding Accel has broad access to (new) breeding techniques. Not only Crispr-CAS, but also Dihaploids, Digital Phenotyping or Bioinformatics are at our disposal to accelerate product innovation and make more frequent breakthroughs in product development.

Because of the diversity of breeding products (flowering potted plants, cut flowers, vegetables and fruit), but also as a result of the different perspectives of employees from the companies or company visions from managements, we are an attractive party for students and graduates. If we can continue to enthuse these group for our sector and they can continue the breeding work, we will (still) not need patents in the future!