11.02.2020

70 years of SAATBAU LINZ

We are living the change!

On 22nd of May 1950, five local individual seed farming cooperatives merged into SAATBAU LINZ.

Until now, SAATBAU LINZ eGen is one of the biggest cooperative comprises for plant breeding and seed multiplication in Austria. Far-sighted men, Deputy Governor of Upper Austria Johann BLÖCHL foremost, realized on the one hand, that it would be difficult for five individual cooperatives to withstand future challenges and on the other hand, that seeds of high quality would be important for the rebuilding and the future of the country.

Looking ahead a plan about seed multiplication regarding the state was done by this “Upper Austrian seeds organisation” aimin

to fulfil the demand of the state and further more – in some varieties – of other states in Austria.
to avoid over production.
to settle on a general and regional variety assortement.
to give breeding stations a precise calculated work order to avoid expensive idle time.

After the Second World War, the potato was by far the most important crop. Because own breeding material was lost during the turmoil of war, SAATBAU LINZ started with new breeding programs for potatoes in 1950. By now, more productive crops have displaced the potato. At the same time, the breeding station for grain and fodder plants moved to Reichersberg to become independent from imports. This had already been succeeded in the 1970s.

In the early 1970s the time was ready for SAATBAU LINZ to start the production of corn. The breeding, multiplication and processing of corn has been continuously advanced. Because of successful breeding results, corn has established as the best-selling crop for SAATBAU LINZ.

With the foundation of SAATZUCHT DONAU, where breeding activities of Probstdorfer Saatzucht and SAATBAU LINZ were combined, the efficiency of breeding wheat, corn and soya increased and the course was set for a positive international development.

Climate change tends to result in a shift of cultivated crops, which leads towards plants with a higher heat demand. A crop, which copes with a higher average temperature and heat is soybean. SAATBAU LINZ knows about its potential for farming in Europe. With its intense breeding programs and its portfolio, SAATBAU LINZ is part of Europe’s top breeders and is internationally competitive.

Today, 70 years after the formation of SAATBAU LINZ we look back on many milestones. The distribution network spans over large parts of Europe and Asia. With the fall of the Iron Curtain the borders of east and west were opened – the first of our current 16 subsidiaries was founded, with the aim of becoming a requested producer for quality seeds on the international market.

Nowadays, SAATBAU LINZ engages not only with plant breeding and seed production but also with controlled production of GMO-free canola, soybeans and corn and with the production of herbs and spices. About 2/3 of seed sales is done internationally. Through contract farming the company established itself as a reliable partner on the international and national food market and as Austria’s biggest organic trading company.

In the last 70 years, SAATBAU LINZ has proved over and over again that the company is able to change itself proactively. Together with our owners, employees, customers and partners we are able to live the change.