Seed Co’s 6 research stations in Zimbabwe, Zambia and East Africa, currently being streamlined and re-invigorated, are mandated to develop seed products in ecological conditions nearest and similar to end-users’ environments.

Innovation and novel breeding methods are responsible for our success in developing successful varieties and our association with Hohenheim University in Germany and our use of double haploid technology significantly reduces breeding periods. Many new seed varieties emerging from our Rattray Arnold and Kadoma Research centres are planned to be introduced into Advance Variety Trials this year (2011).

To enhance Seed Co’s participation in the highland seed varieties, Seed Co has recently licensed three varieties from KARI in Kenya. These varieties are showing excellent potential and should be released next year (2012) thus enabling us to participate in the biggest segment of the Kenyan seed market in Kenya (highland varieties constitute about 70% of the market).

We have released five cultivars recently which are characterised by excellent yield potential and stability: -