Jenny Matthiesen
The lady for our new organic varieties
Ecological farming will play an even more important role in international markets in ten years’ time. Jenny Matthiesen is helping us deliver new varieties – across all crops.
A tree hugger in woolen socks and Birkenstock sandals? That’s not Jenny Matthiesen. She hails from Northern Germany, grew up by the Baltic Sea and is homespun and nature-loving: Agriculture has shaped her life, she’s a member of the German Rural Youth Association and still calls many farmers and hunters her friend to this day. “But you don’t have to be a greenie to produce organic varieties.”
And she has a clear goal at KWS. The countries in the European Union must do more to promote organic food and farming by 2030: The share of cultivation area used for organic agriculture has to be increased to 20 percent in Germany and to 25% EU-wide. “Some farmers will have to change the way they farm,” says Jenny Matthiesen. “They’re already customers of ours and will hopefully still be in 2030. That’s why we have to supply them with the varieties they’ll need in 2030. And we need to start doing that now.”
Overview of the many crops at KWS
Organic Variety Development – a function for which KWS advertised a job for the first time in 2019 and which Jenny Matthiesen has held at our main organic site in Wiebrechtshausen since June 2020 – is tasked with pursuing that path. The now 32-year-old was working at the time in variety approval at the Federal Office of Plant Varieties and applied for the new post – albeit with slight doubts. Applications were invited from people with a master’s degree or doctorate. “I only held a bachelor’s in agricultural engineering.”
However, her five years of experience at the Federal Office of Plant Varieties meant she had ideal qualifications. “I came into contact with Value for Cultivation and Use Testing in Organic Farming for the first time there.” And she also dealt with all types of cereals at the Cereals department. As a result, she quickly learned to change between crops and yet maintain an overview.
That now helps her in her work at KWS: She forges a bridge – straddling the various crops and countries – between conventional breeding and product management for organic farming. “I find the job really diverse, because I’m not concerned with just one crop, but with many ones in KWS’ portfolio. That motivates me every day.”
Conventional breeding as the foundation
One of her tasks is to select genotypes for organic farming. Traits such as speedy juvenile development and a high weed suppression potential are crucial in organic farming. A further factor that plays a role in cereals is plant length so that crops grow strong enough to leave diseases behind or generate more straw for organic farms that keep livestock. Another of her goals is better leaf health, since chemical pesticides are banned.
Jenny Matthiesen checking crop stands.
The 32-year-old pays particular attention to traits such as plant length and leaf health as part of organic farming.
Conventional breeding is the foundation for developing varieties: “80% of the traits match. Our research has shown that it’s not necessary to establish a separate breeding program for organic activities, but to select younger generations systematically in terms of organic traits. As part of that, I talk and cooperate closely with colleagues working in the conventional breeding programs.” Following selection the genotypes are tested under organic conditions on our own trial fields. In Germany these trials are currently underway at Wiebrechtshausen, Seligenstadt and Petkus. There are additional locations with trial fields in Austria and France. The goal is to expand these activities to other EU countries and the UK.
International experience in Canada
Jenny Matthiesen’s résumé also contains another aspect that makes her qualified to work as part of an international team: After training as an agricultural technical assistant from 2006 to 2008, she went to Canada in May 2009 and spent a year there. “I had a lot of freedom there to try out various things.” She improved her English and says that her experience living abroad means she can quickly put herself in the shoes of people from other cultures.
One of the places where Jenny – a keen horse rider – worked in Canada was Spruce Meadows near Calgary, the largest equestrian facility in the world. “But making my hobby a job wasn’t an option – riding was to remain a pastime.” Unlike her almost six-month spell with a breeder that further flamed her passion for this vocation. She worked there with Volker Marwede, with whose family she subsequently nurtured good contacts and who is now her colleague once more: He is a hybrid barley breeder at our location in Wetze.
Insights into work: Melissa Schreiber makes new recordings for the social media channel.
Breeding instead of sales
After returning from Canada, Jenny worked for a potato breeder for one-and-a-half years. But she wanted more – and quit to earn her high-school diploma and be able to study agriculture. In her final semester she came into contact with KWS for the first time, working as a trainee in corn sales. “That’s when I realized: Sales is sales, and what counts at the end of the day is to sell units and make money. That wasn’t my thing. I belong in breeding.”
What fascinates Jenny Matthiesen about it is working with plants outdoors. “When the combines are in the field in the harvest season, then I’m the first on site, rolling up my sleeves,” says Jenny, who is currently studying for her master’s in Business Administration alongside her job. “Genotypes are like little children. Of course you want to see them grow up and how they turn out.” She’s not wimpish. “Breeding’s done outside, come rain or shine, and not in front of the computer.”
Jenny Matthiesen – in her element. |
Our main organic site Wiebrechtshausen
A special home for Special Crops
The Sub Business Unit Special Crops and Organic Seeds (SBU SC&OS) moved into the historical Milk House at our Wiebrechtshausen site at the beginning of 2021. It has seven offices over three floors, a small meeting room, two meeting points and a generous kitchen. The listed building underwent extensive refurbishment. Its exterior was lavishly restored and visually enhanced, and it was completely renovated inside. Nevertheless, the building has retained its charm as a whole, since its natural stone walls and flooring were preserved and complemented with natural materials such as oak planks.
The location is now home not only to all fields of work to do with organic farming, but all international activities related to catch crops, sorghum, oats and peas.
The move from Einbeck to the monastery estate means that SBU SC&OS is breathing new life into the historical Milk House. The building is an extension of the manor house and is now being used again for the first time in many years. The blend of old walls and modern KWS furnishings gives the site its special charm and ensures that Special Crops has a special home.
Workplaces for 15 people
“The Milk House will allow our Sub Business Unit to grow further,” says Hermann Klingemann, Head of SBU SC&OS. “Up to 15 people can work here. The proximity to our farm also enables better sharing of knowledge and expertise with staff involved in the practical side of farming, and we can supervise our trial areas even more intensively.”
The mix of practical ecological farming and organic product and portfolio management is rounded out by the unit’s own organic variety development activities. “In particular, our colleagues who are responsible for marketing and portfolio management are close by, which means we can pick their brains about what customers need from the future varieties we develop,” says Jenny Matthiesen, who develops organic varieties. “Development of varieties tailored to the specific needs of organic farmers under separate responsibility is something that sets KWS apart from the competition.”
Independent point of contact
Apart from the proximity to the organic trials that have been conducted at the now growing main organic site at Wiebrechtshausen for almost 20 years, the choice of location aims to underscore the whole unit’s independence. It is also intended as a point of contact for all colleagues who are in close dialog with Special Crops. The department is a cross-crop player within KWS, since sales for the various crops are not assigned to a single Business Unit, but to a Business Unit that varies from country to country.
The diversity of Special Crops is also demonstrated by the specially selected works of art in the Milk House. The employees themselves were mainly responsible for the design. “It’s great to see such a jewel created out of a ruin,” enthuses Melissa Schreiber, who is in charge of international marketing at the SBU. “At the outset we weren’t really able to imagine what it would look like, but the result has surpassed all our expectations. Our Milk House is a true gem and offers a lot of space for creativity.”
Special thanks go to our colleagues at Facility Management, who set about implementing all the wishes and visions down to the last detail with lots of passion and made everything possible. |
Contact:
Melissa Schreiber
melissa.schreiber@kws.com
© KWS SAAT SE & Co. KGaA 2025
