Partnering for resilient seed systems – organic breeding, biodiversity & innovation in practice

ReinSaat is a leading European partner for biodiversity-driven organic breeding and resilient seed systems. With over 27 years of experience and more than 800 open-pollinated varieties, we combine practical breeding, applied research and EU-wide collaboration across the entire value chain – from breeding and cultivation to seed production, quality testing and distribution.

We contribute to Horizon Europe projects with a strong focus on the development of climate-adapted, seed-stable varieties as sustainable alternatives to hybrid systems. Our work integrates resistance breeding, quality research and adaptation to climate stress such as heat, drought and disease pressure.

Through ReinSaat ReSearch, we provide a scientifically grounded research environment linking laboratory analysis, field trials and genetic resource management, including the development of data-based approaches (e.g. gene databases). In parallel, the ReinSaat Academy enables knowledge transfer, training and capacity building, connecting science, farmers and practitioners within a living-lab framework.

Our strength lies in bridging research and practice: we actively contribute to multi-actor projects through field-based experimentation, stakeholder integration and real-world implementation. ReinSaat is embedded in a strong European network of propagation partners and research collaborations, enabling scalable impact and cross-regional knowledge exchange.

Example of our contribution:
ReinSaat develops climate-resilient varieties tailored to extreme conditions, including heat- and drought-tolerant crops as well as disease-resistant vegetables (e.g. mildew-resistant lettuce or virus-resistant tomatoes). These breeding programmes combine long-term field selection with laboratory testing and directly feed into practical agricultural application. 

What we bring to projects:

·      Organic and biodynamic breeding of open-pollinated varieties

·      Development of climate-resilient, seed-stable crops

·      Conservation and use of plant genetic resources

·      Applied research (field trials + lab + practice)

·      Living labs and multi-actor approaches

·      Training, capacity building and knowledge transfer (being established)

·      Strong EU collaboration and implementation capacity