Faster breeding for stronger genetics
“Alone you go faster, together you go further.” That idea captures the strength of the collaboration at Breeding Accel. Six breeding companies combine knowledge, research and technology to speed up product innovation and more precise selection. The result is a shared approach that brings modern breeding techniques to practical crop improvement.
Collaboration as a catalyst
Breeding Accel is a collaboration between KP Holland, Interplant Roses, Labeau, Fresh Forward, Royal Van Zanten and Schoneveld Breeding. Each company has its own crops, genetics and breeding goals. Together, they invest in knowledge, technology, and research that will take them further than developing it alone.
By doing so, they make advanced molecular techniques more accessible. It also creates room to learn more from each other and improve methods together. “Breeding Accel allows us to bring product innovation to the market faster and offer added value to our chain partners,” says Director of Schoneveld Breeding Peter van de Pol.
A joint molecular laboratory
At the heart of Breeding Accel is a joint molecular laboratory. This lab is specifically designed for marker technology. Koen Pelgrom, Seed Specialist at Schoneveld Breeding, explains: “With markers you can look into the DNA of a plant.” Markers help breeders identify desired traits earlier and more accurately. Sometimes one small difference in the DNA-sequence can point to an important characteristic.
For breeders, this can save valuable time. One marker can save a breeder around one year. When several traits are combined, the saved time can become much larger. “This is especially useful when breeders want to combine characteristics such as flower colour, plant type or foliage traits,” says Koen.
Advantages for growers
For growers, this collaboration is not about technology for technology’s sake. It is about better genetics reaching the market faster. More precise selection helps breeders work towards higher uniformity, more reliable traits and varieties that better match production needs.
In the end, Breeding Accel strengthens the route from research to crop. By combining expertise, all partners can select smarter, test earlier and develop with more focus. For growers, that means a stronger basis for future flowering pot plants.