"Our direct connection between breeding and real-world practice makes our approach truly unique"

Schoneveld Breeding's communication lines are short – both with customers and within the company. Plant breeder Marleen Kusters and Area Manager North America Kathy McKay explain how this works in practice. "Our direct connection between breeding and real-world practice makes our approach truly unique."

Marleen spends every day working on the innovations of tomorrow. "The communication between departments at Schoneveld Breeding is incredibly close. As a breeder, I can quickly identify what the market needs. If I hear from a growing support specialist that growers are looking for larger flowers or quicker flowering, I immediately start thinking about which parent lines could deliver that."

Freedom to deliver
This approach is only possible because employees are given a high degree of freedom and responsibility. "Our department has just four people," Marleen explains. "We brainstorm regularly, but we carry out much of our work independently. You're encouraged to bring forward your own ideas and take ownership of projects – it's a great way to work."

Technology as an accelerator
"At the same time, we love collaborating," Marleen continues. She points to the molecular lab at Schoneveld Breeding, which is used by multiple companies. "Innovation is key here. In the lab we've developed DNA markers, which allow us to work far more quickly. By taking leaf samples, we can gain valuable insights from seedlings without waiting for plants to come into full bloom." This speeds up the breeding process by one to two years.

Another technological advantage that helps accelerate development is tissue culture. "It means we can introduce new products more quickly and respond to current market demand," says Marleen. Even with this focus on speed, quality is never compromised. "We have set stages that must be completed before a product is launched," Marleen explains. These product life cycles ensure that enthusiasm never leads to premature introductions.

© Schoneveld Breeding

Sustainability at the core
Schoneveld Breeding is committed to working with crops that truly make a difference for growers, with sustainability playing a central role. The company has been ahead of the curve for years with compact varieties that require little to no plant growth regulators. "With more chemical products being banned, our varieties are becoming increasingly valuable for growers," says Marleen.

Together with her colleagues, she works on genetically compact acaulis in the Paradiso series. This series is continuously evolving, because alongside innovation, Schoneveld Breeding also pursues constant ecological improvement. Marleen says: "We always aim to cultivate strong, resilient plants, where biological pest control is the standard." Disease resistance is another key breeding goal. "The less susceptible a plant is to Botrytis, the less heating growers need to use to remove moisture from the greenhouse – which brings both economic and environmental benefits."

For Kathy McKay, sustainability at Schoneveld Breeding is more than just words. "We genuinely live by that philosophy. In Tanzania, we have a solar park to reduce our CO₂ footprint, and at our Wilp facility, we use a closed water system, so water is recycled again and again."

Cyclamen for every climate
In recent years, heat tolerance has become an increasingly important breeding focus. Since this is difficult to select for in the Netherlands, Schoneveld Breeding works with growers in warmer climates. "They conduct trials and gain first access to the latest developments," says Marleen. The large-flowered Super Serie Leopardo marked the start of a heat-tolerant Cyclamen range, joined by Super Serie Verano and Elegante. Growers can now deliver beautiful Cyclamen of any size, all year round, in any climate.

Technical support that makes a difference
Alongside its regular stream of innovations, Schoneveld Breeding's crop support service is another unique strength. "Many growers choose us for the support we provide," says Marleen. "We help them get started with new products and keep in regular contact to ensure the best possible results for every crop."

Kathy frequently visits growers. "They often need quick answers or technical advice. Our team can respond rapidly so customers can take immediate action." This proactive approach ensures that growers don't just receive high-quality seed but also the right knowledge and latest insights to maximize results – for example, on growing in peat-free media, where our crop support team can share first-hand experience from our own trials.

The energy of Schoneveld
"The energy of Schoneveld Breeding is reflected in everything we do – from our innovative breeding to our dedicated customer service. By staying close to growers, we maintain the trust of the market. We deliver quality – nothing less."