Sustainable use

Corn4Future – Why corn has sustainable uses

The European Green Deal and the Farm to Fork strategy have set clear targets around sustainable farming in Europe. Among these targets is a reduction in the use of chemical plant protection by 50%. This is where the seed sector continues to act as a key solution provider and offers a great sustainable potential. Corn requires only minimal plant protection of 1-2 starter applications (Source: Deutsches Maiskomitee e.V. (DMK) (2024)). With our breeding efforts toward “low input varieties”, varieties that can use existing resources like water and nitrogen more efficiently, KWS corn varieties contribute to more sustainable use of resources.

Corn is very efficient in its water and nitrogen use

Heat and drought are the two most important environmental stresses imposing a huge impact on crop growth, development, biomass productivity and grain yield. Corn exhibits high water use efficiency and drought tolerance. This results in stable yields even under water stress. Corn requires 100-300 liters of water to produce 1 kg of dry matter, thus showing an efficient water use compared to other crops (Source: Deutsches Maiskomitee e.V. (DMK) (2024)).

Nitrogen is an essential component of all enzymes and is therefore necessary for plant growth and development. Corn is very efficient in its nitrogen use. It needs 20 kg nitrogen per 10,000 mega joule net lactation - about 25% less nitrogen use than other crops (Source: DMK (2024)).

Both biomass production and grain yield production can only grow from available nitrogen. Nitrogen is, besides water, light and temperature, the main driver for plant growth. However, certain genotypes can produce more yield, from less nitrogen.

Dr. Andreas Groß, Head of International Corn Product Management

Closer look: What´s in for sustainability?

Versatile performance

Corn adapts to diverse environments.This is why it can be grown in diverse, challenging environments across the globe.

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Corn is an important crop!

Corn's performance as a crop is impressive, supporting its use in a broad variety of applications.

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Yield increase

Progress in plant breeding is the most relevant contributor to safeguard food production for a growing world population in the face of climate change and limited resources.

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A shared fight against drought – Farmer story.

Drought tolerance & ClimaCONTROL3

Under the ClimaCONTROL3 label, KWS offers innovative, drought-tolerant grain corn varieties that derive from a dedicated research and breeding program. The number three in the name stands for the fact that drought stress can have three different impacts on plants depending on the respective growth phase: Before, during or after flowering.

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Reduction of CO2 emissions & DryDown+

KWS' DryDown+ grain corn varieties are characterized by a superior dry-down capacity (drying capacity). Internal trials show that the reduction of the crop moisture from 30 to 20 percent at harvest can reduce the necessary drying costs by up to 50 percent. The long-term breeding goal is a grain moisture level of a maximum of 15% at harvest to eliminate the need of drying at all – and also enabling a significant reduction of energy use and CO2 emissions during the drying cycles.

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Sustainability starts with the seed

The future only works together

Bringing nutrition, nature and efficiency together: As one of the world’s leading seed specialists, we are convinced we can and must make a significant contribution toward finding solutions for sustainable farming that are also economically viable.

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