Workshop
Excellence Through Stewardship
Contact persons for China attended the international Excellence Through Stewardship (ETS) workshop in Wetze, Lower Saxony, for the first time.
When we rolled out Excellence Through Stewardship at KWS in 2012, we were embarking on new ground. ETS is similar to an ISO standard and defines generally valid regulations, which KWS is gradually incorporating in a stewardship program tailored to the company. In the meantime, we have fully established it as a quality standard that is tailored to responsible management of transgenic material.
The third workshop for ETS managers at KWS was held at the Wetze log house, the venue for KWS seminars in Southern Lower Saxony, in January 2020. Apart from colleagues from Germany, the U.S., Brazil and Argentina, KWS employees from China were also represented.
FACTS
The Chinese market
- It is also special from the stewardship perspective
- It is the largest market for corn seed after the U.S.
- KWS aims to expand its market share there, both with GM and conventional material
- Transgenic corn does not have official approval there, but there is a high level of illegal cultivation
- It is expected that the market will be opened up to genetically modified organisms from 2021 on
- The political situation makes it difficult for foreign players to launch genetically modified seed there
- Seed is not imported and must be produced in the country
- There is little experience with ETS, i.e. it will likely be difficult to implement
- It is difficult to protect intellectual property
ETS Ambassadors
Our local ETS managers make a key contribution to the success of the program. These local experts are the first point of contact for matters relating to ETS-compliant processes and how to handle deviations. They also act as internal auditors and coaches: They are ambassadors for ETS.
Together with colleagues from other units, the ETS managers form the GMO Stewardship working group. They are tasked with continuous further development of the program for genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Apart from regular talks, an international workshop is held every two years and gives participants the chance to conduct an intensive dialogue and discuss future developments.
An especially exciting topic at this year’s event was activities in the Chinese market. The two contact persons Gyula Szelle and Steffen Roggenbach took up the invitation and used the opportunity to present the special situation in China and themselves learn more about establishment of the stewardship system in other countries. |
Knowledge
ETS compact
- Responsible handling of products throughout their lifecycle
- Tailored quality standard for handling transgenic material
- Objective: To minimize risks
The ETS program at KWS
- Continuous improvement
- Process descriptions and requirements documented in guidelines and work instructions
- Training courses
- Internal and external audits
- Systematic handling of deviations
Further information on the intranet
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