Tradition
Family shareholders meet in Buzet
“Vous êtes les bienvenus” were the words of welcome that greeted the family shareholders from the Büchting family at this year’s meeting of the CEB Circle, which was held at the production and breeding station in Buzet-sur-Baïse in the south of France, between Bordeaux and Toulouse, at the end of August.
After an overview of KWS’ current activities in France, Jörg Philipps, Head of the Business Unit Sugarbeet, first explained the importance of Buzet in the company’s overall production concept. The local portfolio has been developed continuously since activities began there with production of sugarbeet seed back in 1994.
Largest production site with all crops
Buzet now produces not only sugarbeet, but also corn, rapeseed and rye. It is therefore the largest KWS production site with all crops from three Business Units and impressive testimony to how KWS can leverage many advantages through synergies and by pooling know-how.
Olivier de Croisoeuil Chateaurenard, head of the station, then gave an overview of the numerous production activities, after which Eric Gombert held a presentation on the location’s breeding activities: Buzet has long since been more than “just” a production site – it is also a breeding station with programs for late grain corn and, a more recent addition, wheat for the Mediterranean region.
That was followed by a tour of the campus, including the sugarbeet seed processing plants. The family shareholders were visibly impressed by them.
Closely linked to KWS
In the afternoon, KWS’ Chief Executive Officer Hagen Duenbostel discussed the latest developments and structural changes (ONEGLOBE) at KWS with the CEB Circle. There was also a lively discussion about the company’s approach to new breeding technologies. These talks demonstrate that KWS’ family shareholders follow the company’s development with great commitment and attachment. |
Info
The CEB Circle
As long-standing Chairman of the Executive Board and later of the Supervisory Board, Carl-Ernst Büchting (1915–2010) – known as CEB for short – stood at KWS’ helm as representative of the fifth generation of the founding family. His children and their families come together in the CEB Circle. To nurture contact with the company and to keep informed of the latest developments, the family shareholders visit a KWS location once a year, always on the weekend around CEB’s birthday on September 6. The founding family’s traditionally close ties to the company are a hallmark of KWS and are to be continued in the future. |
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