What RAPOOL-RING GmbH does

RAPOOL-RING GmbH is a German rapeseed (canola) biotechnology and breeding company founded in 1974 and headquartered in Isernhagen, Germany. The company functions as the coordinating entity of a cooperative breeding network comprising three independent German plant breeders — Norddeutsche Pflanzenzucht Hans-Georg Lembke KG (NPZ), Deutsche Saatveredelung AG (DSV), and W. von Borries-Eckendorf GmbH & Co. KG. Together these partners operate the largest rapeseed breeding network in Europe, spanning more than 180 breeding locations and over 100,000 test plots. RAPOOL's core business is the development, production, and distribution of proprietary hybrid rapeseed varieties — winter rapeseed, summer rapeseed, and specialty industrial types — supported by an integrated pipeline from research through seed treatment (Beizung) to certified seed distribution.

The company's underlying technology combines classical breeding with biotechnological methods including microspore culture and doubled haploid techniques, and incorporates proprietary genetic resistance traits such as Rlm7 and the novel Rlm12 Phoma resistance genes, TuYV virus resistance, clubroot (Kohlhernie) resistance, and Cylindrosporium/Verticillium resistance packages. It markets more than 21 commercial varieties (e.g., KARAT, GOLDING, CHURCHILL, SMARAGD, FAMULUS, PiCARD, VESPA, CROMBACH) and has demonstrated a yield breeding progress of +0.44 dt/ha per year since 1985. The portfolio is complemented by digital advisory tools — the Rapooli AI chatbot, WhatsRaps WhatsApp newsletter, and an Aussaatrechner (seeding calculator) — and supported by a 50+ person regional field sales force covering all of Germany plus 13 international markets (Central Europe, Eastern Europe, the Baltics, and Central Asia).

RAPOOL sells certified rapeseed seed primarily through one-time transactions to commercial arable farmers (Landwirte), ranging from smallholders under 100 ha to operations exceeding 5,000 ha. Its go-to-market blends direct enterprise field sales, regional inside-sales consulting, field-day events (Rapsfeldtage), online webinars (RAPS-PROFI-TALK), a participatory harvest monitoring program (Erntemonitoring), and channel partners (affiliated breeders) in international markets. Pricing is quote-based, varies by variety, volume, region, and season, and is not publicly disclosed; the company emphasizes 100% germination capacity and professional seed treatment under German quality standards as the basis for its value proposition.

Name

RAPOOL-RING GmbH

Legal name

RAPOOL-RING GmbH

Website

https://rapool.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

RAPOOL-RING GmbH is a German rapeseed breeding cooperative that develops, produces, and distributes proprietary hybrid rapeseed varieties to commercial arable farmers across Europe, coordinating the largest rapeseed breeding network on the continent (180+ locations, 100,000+ test plots).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Seeds

NAICS

Oilseed (except Soybean) Farming (111120)

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100)

akta.pro primary industry

Canola & Rapeseed Farming (AFAGABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Plant Breeding & Variety Development (Conventional) (AFAGAIAF), Seed Distribution & Wholesale (Channel Sales) (AFAGAIAM)

Keywords

• Rapeseed breeding
• Hybrid rapeseed varieties
• Agricultural seed sales
• Plant genetics research
• Crop consulting services

Headquarters

HQ city

Isernhagen-süd

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Rapeseed Seed Sales: Primary revenue stream from the sale of proprietary rapeseed varieties (winter rapeseed, summer rapeseed, and specialty varieties) to agricultural farmers. Research, breeding, seed production, seed treatment technology, and distribution are fully integrated under one organization. Products sold include certified seed with 100% germination capacity and professional seed treatment (Beizung).

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

RAPOOL-RING GmbH develops, breeds, produces and sells proprietary rapeseed (canola) seed varieties to commercial farmers across Europe and Central Asia. Its portfolio covers winter rapeseed, summer rapeseed, clubroot-resistant varieties and specialty industrial types (Clearfield, high erucic acid, low linolenic acid), bundled with professional seed treatment, 100% germination certification, agronomic consulting from 50+ regional advisors, and digital tools (Rapooli chatbot, WhatsRaps, Aussaatrechner).

Product overview

RAPOOL-RING GmbH is a German plant breeding company specializing in rapeseed seeds, operating as the coordinating entity for a consortium of German breeders (Norddeutsche Pflanzenzucht Hans-Georg Lembke KG, Deutsche Saatveredelung AG, and W. von Borries-Eckendorf GmbH & Co. KG). The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of rapeseed varieties organized into three main product lines: Winterraps (winter rapeseed) as the primary offering with numerous hybrid varieties featuring various resistances (clubroot, Phoma, Cylindrosporium, TuYV); Sommerraps (summer rapeseed) with LAKRITZ and MENTHAL varieties; and Spezialsorten (special varieties) including high-erucic acid, low-linolenic acid, and Clearfield types. The portfolio is supported by digital advisory services including Rapooli (AI chatbot), WhatsRaps (WhatsApp advisory), and an Aussaatrechner (seeding calculator). Field advisory services include over 50 regional representatives and professional online seminars through RAPS-PROFI-TALK. The company also operates the Erntemonitoring farmer survey program for continuous variety performance monitoring.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Winterraps (Winter Rapeseed Varieties) Hybrid and line winter rapeseed varieties for autumn sowing and summer harvest, sold as professionally treated certified seed to commercial arable farmers. Portfolio includes KARAT, GOLDING, DETLEF, CHURCHILL, DAKTARI, FAMULUS, PiCARD, VESPA, SCOTCH, SMARAGD, LUDGER, LUCIFER, and a clubroot-resistant line (CROMBACH, CROWN, CROCODILE, CREDO, CRATOS, CROMAT) covering Phoma, Cylindrosporium, Verticillium, TuYV and clubroot resistance packages.
• Sommerraps (Summer Rapeseed Varieties) Spring-sown summer rapeseed varieties sold as professionally treated certified seed to commercial farmers, including LAKRITZ and MENTHAL (with clubroot resistance).

Quantifiable outcome

• 0.44 dt/ha annual grain yield increase since 1985 through systematic breeding progress
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Norddeutsche Pflanzenzucht Hans-Georg Lembke KG (NPZ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNPZ is one of the two founding partner companies of the RAPOOL-RING cooperative. NPZ contributes to RAPOOL's breeding programs with expertise in rapeseed genetics and maintains its own breeding stations. Key contacts for central advisory include Rainer Kahl and Malte Grohall. NPZ is headquartered in Hohenlieth, Holtsee, Germany.
• Deutsche Saatveredelung AG (DSV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDSV is the second founding partner company of the RAPOOL-RING cooperative. Contributes to joint rapeseed breeding programs and distributes RAPOOL varieties through its sales network. Key contact for central advisory includes Sebastian Hötte. DSV is headquartered in Lippstadt, Germany.
• W. von Borrones-Eckendorf GmbH & Co. KGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerW. von Borrones-Eckendorf is the third partner company within the RAPOOL-RING cooperative, contributing to the coordinated breeding programs and distribution of rapeseed varieties. Located in Germany.
• EZG Ostfrisische Marsch eGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of the Rapsfeldtag in Krummhörn (field day event, July 9, 2026). Agricultural producer organization in the East Frisian Marsh region of Lower Saxony, Germany. Co-hosts field demonstrations and networking events with RAPOOL.

Scale indicators7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• W. von Borries-Eckendorf GmbH & Co. KG: Third founding partner of the RAPOOL cooperative and an independent German plant breeder with rapeseed lines. Directly comparable as a partner breeder sharing genetics and distribution within RAPOOL's network.
• Norddeutsche Pflanzenzucht Hans-Georg Lembke KG (NPZ): Founder partner of RAPOOL and a primary rapeseed genetics contributor. Directly comparable as a German rapeseed breeder whose varieties feed the RAPOOL portfolio; significant overlap in genetics and distribution.
• Deutsche Saatveredelung AG (DSV): One of RAPOOL's three founding partner companies and an active rapeseed breeder/distributor. Directly comparable as a German cooperative plant breeder participating in RAPOOL's joint breeding programs while also distributing competing and overlapping rapeseed varieties.

Broad incumbents

• KWS SAAT SE & Co. KGaA: Major German plant breeding company with broad crop portfolio including rapeseed, sugar beet, corn, and cereals. Directly comparable as a German-headquartered seed breeder operating across European agriculture with comparable plant breeding infrastructure.
• Limagrain (Vilmorin & Cie): French-headquartered seed group with European rapeseed varieties and broad crop portfolio. Comparable as a European cooperative-style seed company offering competing rapeseed hybrids.
• BASF Agricultural Solutions: Global seed and crop protection company with InVigor hybrid rapeseed (post-Bayer acquisition). Comparable as a large-scale hybrid rapeseed competitor with strong trait development capability.
• Syngenta Group: Global agribusiness with hybrid rapeseed varieties (NK brand) and crop protection across Europe. Comparable as a large-scale competitor combining seed genetics with chemical crop protection.
• Corteva Agriscience (Pioneer): Global seed major with Pioneer-branded rapeseed hybrids in Europe. Comparable as a multinational competitor with comparable hybrid rapeseed offerings and broader trait pipeline.
• Bayer Crop Science (DEKALB): Global seed and crop protection incumbent with a substantial rapeseed portfolio across Europe. Comparable as a competitor offering hybrid rapeseed with trait packages at greater scale and R&D depth than RAPOOL.

Regional players

• DLF Seeds A/S: Danish seed company primarily focused on forage and turf but with activity in oilseed crops. Comparable as a Northern European cooperative seed company operating in adjacent plant breeding categories.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCjOF-z4lM9lqp9Wv5eI9SRA
• Facebookfacebook.com/rapoolring
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rapool

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about RAPOOL-RING GmbH