From manual control to automated high-tech: Michael Scholz has accompanied the changes in processing.
Retirement
Inspired by technology
Michael Scholz began his career in sugarbeet seed processing 41 years ago – and remained in this field until he retired in January. As head of the department, he was also a driving force behind innovations.
Michael Scholz graduated from high school, completed agricultural training on his parents’ and another farm, and earned a degree in agriculture with a focus on economics – but the profession he practiced for more than 41 years at KWS can only be learned through hands-on experience. “There’s no formal training for sugarbeet seed processing,” he says – despite how the job has diversified over the years and now encompasses processing itself, pelleting, active ingredient application, packaging, logistics and procurement. Still, the task is too specific for there to be any training for it.
That was also the situation when Michael Scholz joined KWS as a junior staffer on January 1, 1985. “The first few years were about learning the steps involved in processing: Absorbing the knowledge of colleagues, evaluating it and putting it into practice myself.” After a few years, he initially managed individual departments and, in 1994, took over responsibility for the entire process when his predecessor retired.
Refreshing the technology
A lot has happened since then, especially from a technical standpoint: “Processing used to be a very mechanical process that had to be manually controlled and adjusted by employees. Now we have high-tech systems with computer-controlled formulations.” Michael Scholz made his contribution to that progress – after all, he had applied for the position because, according to the job ad, it also involved refreshing the technology. “By 1985, the oldest systems had already been in operation for more than 20 years. It was high time for modernization.”
And so, since the 1990s, Michael Scholz has collaborated in construction of the new active ingredient application and seed processing plants in Einbeck, as well as in Italy and France, where new pre-cleaning and cleaning facilities were erected. He also managed projects for KWS in the U.S. and Japan and participated in establishment of the four new seed processing plants PIA (Germany), FRANCA (France), RUNA (Russia) and TURKA (Türkiye). “Simplifying workflows and automating manual tasks – that’s always appealed to me.”
“Many have become friends.”
Michael Scholz
Man and machine
But despite all the modernization, processes don’t run without people. At the last count, there were around 120 colleagues in Einbeck. It’s this team that responds to conditions that change by the year. “Depending on the weather, we sometimes have better and sometimes poorer seed. In the various stages of processing, you then have to compensate for what nature hasn’t managed to do.”
Bastian Schröder is now in charge of processing. He’s returning after eight years at KWS in Wohlde. Prior to that, he had already spent eight years in sugarbeet processing at KWS. “A lot has changed in the meantime,” says Michael Scholz. He has passed on his knowledge to his successor over the past few months.
Now he wants to enjoy retirement with his wife and travel often. Australia and New Zealand are on their list of destinations, and they also intend to go hiking with friends. But in between, he also hopes to find time to combine traveling with visits to his old haunts. Because the people at KWS have grown dear to the 66-year-old’s heart. “Many have become friends.” |
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