Seedculture Gleisdorf

What Seedculture Gleisdorf does

Saatzucht Gleisdorf Gesellschaft m.b.H. is a privately held Austrian plant breeding company headquartered in Gleisdorf, Styria, founded in 1948 at Schloss Kornberg to address post-war food production needs. It develops and registers proprietary crop varieties across oil pumpkin (notably the Steirischer Ölkürbis, where it holds a Central European market leader position), hybrid maize (FAO 200-300 maturity range, in joint program with Swiss DSP Delley AG since 2022), soybean (maturity groups 0000 to 0), field beans (one of the last active European breeders in this crop), plus specialty crops including millet, buckwheat, scarlet runner bean (Käferbohne), and cover crops. The company operates approximately 70 hectares of breeding and basic seed production infrastructure at Gleisdorf and runs an extensive field trial network across 18 European countries, complemented by winter generation cultivation sites in Chile and Tenerife to compress breeding cycles.

The underlying technology stack combines traditional plant breeding with molecular marker-assisted selection (developed in cooperation with IFA Tulln and BOKU Vienna), natural field selection under humid-warm Styrian climate conditions, and proprietary germplasm collections including the most extensive Central European millet collection (60 ecotypes). The company conducts roughly 50,000 hand pollinations and 18,000 trial plot evaluations annually across 55 European trial sites, registering approximately 10 new maize varieties per year plus additional registrations across other crops.

The business model is based on certified seed sales of proprietary varieties, supplemented by representation and distribution of international partner varieties (notably IG Pflanzenzucht Munich cereals). Distribution runs through three established channels: Die Saat (primary partner for all soybean seed, including exclusive 'Saat-fertig' Rhizobia-treated product), G-Seed, and the RWA Raiffeisen cooperative network, the latter enabled by RWA's status as a major shareholder. The company is owned by a consortium of agricultural institutions: RWA Raiffeisen Ware Austria AG, ALWERA AG, and Landwirtschaftskammer Steiermark, indicating a member-cooperative governance structure rather than venture- or private-equity-backed ownership. Customer segments span conventional farmers, organic/bio farms, grain/cereal producers, livestock farms, and regional specialty crop producers across Austria and broader Europe.

Name

Seedculture Gleisdorf

Legal name

Saatzucht Gleisdorf Gesellschaft m.b.H.

Website

https://saatzuchtgleisdorf.at

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Saatzucht Gleisdorf is an Austrian cooperative-owned plant breeding company (founded 1948) that develops and sells proprietary certified seed varieties across oil pumpkin, maize, soybean, field bean, and specialty crops, distributed through Die Saat, G-Seed, and the RWA Raiffeisen network to conventional and organic farmers across 18+ European countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Seeds (Plant Breeding & Seed Production)

NAICS

Oilseed and Grain Farming (1111)

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100)

akta.pro primary industry

Plant Breeding & Variety Development (Conventional) (AFAGAIAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Registered Seed Production (AFAGAIAB), Organic Seed Production & Plant Breeding (Certified Organic Seed) (AFAGAKAF), Open-Pollinated/Varietal Seed Multiplication (AFAGAIAE)

Keywords

• Plant breeding
• Seed production
• Crop varieties
• Hybrid maize
• Agricultural seeds

Headquarters

HQ city

Gleisdorf

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Seed Sales - Proprietary Varieties: Sale of certified seeds of proprietary varieties developed in-house. Includes basic seed production for registered varieties. Revenue generated from licensing and direct seed sales to farmers and agricultural cooperatives.
2. Seed Sales - Represented Varieties: Distribution of international partner varieties through breeding cooperation agreements. Saatzucht Gleisdorf represents varieties from IG Pflanzenzucht Munich for cereals in Austria.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Saatzucht Gleisdorf is a traditional Austrian plant breeding company that develops, registers, and produces certified seed of proprietary high-yield crop varieties across oil pumpkin, maize, soybean, field bean, scarlet runner bean, millet, buckwheat, cereals, and cover crops. The company breeds for Central European and organic-farming conditions, selling seeds through wholesale distributors Die Saat and G-Seed and via the RWA Raiffeisen cooperative network to farmers and agricultural businesses.

Product overview

Saatzucht Gleisdorf is a traditional Austrian plant breeding company with over 60 years of experience, operating as a comprehensive seed breeding and research organization. The company develops and produces seeds across multiple crop categories: oil crops (Steirischer Ölkürbis), grains (Mais, Getreide), legumes (Sojabohne, Ackerbohne, Käferbohne), and specialty crops (Hirse, Buchweizen, Zwischenfrüchte). The product portfolio includes registered varieties of each crop type, with varieties marketed through distribution partners 'Die Saat' and 'G-Seed'. The company operates breeding programs for both conventional and organic farming, with annual variety registrations approved by the Austrian Federal Office for Food Safety (Bundesamt für Ernährungssicherheit).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Steirischer Ölkürbis (Styrian Oil Pumpkin) Hull-less oil pumpkin varieties bred for high seed yield, oil content, and disease resistance. Includes both hybrid and line varieties with goals including improved kernel quality, virus resistance (Zucchini Yellow Mosaic Virus), and reduced vine length for easier cultivation. Targeted at Austrian and Central European oil pumpkin growers and Styrian specialty food producers.
• Mais (Maize / Corn) Hybrid grain and silage maize varieties in the FAO 200-300 maturity range, produced through a breeding program conducting 50,000 hand pollinations annually and 18,000 trial plots across 55 European test sites under a cooperation with DSP Delley Samen und Pflanzen AG (Switzerland). Targeted at European maize growers and grain/silage producers.
• Sojabohne (Soybean) Soybean varieties with yield potential, high protein content, standability, pod placement height, and weed suppression capability, suitable for both conventional and organic farming. Maturity groups 0000 to 0 serve Austrian and Eastern European markets.
• Hirse (Millet) Proso millet (Rispenhirse) and foxtail millet (Kolbenhirse) varieties bred from the most extensive millet germplasm collection in Central Europe. Includes 'Kornberger Mittelfrühe' marketed as Goldhirse for healthy human nutrition. Targeted at specialty food producers and human-nutrition supply chains.
• Buchweizen (Buckwheat) Buckwheat varieties based on local Styrian, Carinthian, and Slovenian germplasm, bred for stronger red flower coloring (higher rutin content) and increased seed yield. Two varieties have been registered. Targeted at specialty food producers and health-food supply chains.
• Käferbohne (Scarlet Runner Bean / Steirische Käferbohne) Styrian scarlet runner bean (Feuer- or Prunkbohne) varieties bred for improved heat tolerance during flowering, better growth type with reduced leaf mass, and maintenance of good taste for traditional regional food use. The variety Bonela has been on the market since 1988. Targeted at producers of traditional Styrian specialty foods.
• Ackerbohne (Field Bean) Field bean varieties bred for increased seed yield, yield stability, protein content, and reduced anti-nutritional factors (tannins, vicine, convicine). Developed for both animal feed and as a cover crop/green manure. Saatzucht Gleisdorf is one of the last active field bean breeders remaining in Europe. Targeted at livestock farms and crop rotation producers.
• Zwischenfrüchte (Cover Crops) Cover crop seeds including Saatsenf (mustard) and Winterrübsen (winter turnip rape variety Clio, approved 2005), selected for rapid ground cover and weed suppression. Targeted at conventional and organic crop-rotation producers.
• Getreide (Cereals) Cereal varieties (wheat, barley, rye) distributed in Austria through cooperation with IG Pflanzenzucht Munich. Saatzucht Gleisdorf serves as an important cereal testing site for southern Austria and provides access to international genetics for bread and flour production.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50% of Austrian hybrid maize seed market demand (4,000 tons) supplied by Gleisdorf varieties historically
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DSP Delley Samen und Pflanzen AG (Switzerland)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Joint hybrid maize breeding program established in 2022 for shared breeding organization. Both companies have high-performing genetics and extensive variety registrations in Europe. Two breeding locations in Delley (Switzerland) and Gleisdorf (Austria) plus winter generations in Southern Hemisphere.
• EU LEGATO Project (Legumes for the Agriculture of Tomorrow)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014EU research project (2014-2017) on legumes. Saatzucht Gleisdorf is partner conducting screenings for disease resistance (Botrytis fabae, rust, Ascochyta, root Fusarium) and abiotic factors (winter hardiness, drought tolerance).
• IG Pflanzenzucht MunichcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1996As shareholder since 1996, Saatzucht Gleisdorf has direct access to latest genetics for winter and summer crops. Partnership enables variety testing for cereals and representation of IG Pflanzenzucht member variety rights in Austria.
• Die SaatcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary distribution channel for all Saatzucht Gleisdorf seed varieties. Organization handles marketing and distribution of all soybean seed varieties. All soybean seed offered 'Saat-fertig' (Rhizobia-treated) through this channel.
• G-SeedcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSeed distribution partner for variety information and sales.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Syngenta Group: Global agricultural input company (seeds and crop protection) with extensive European field crop breeding, including maize, cereals, oilseeds, and vegetables. Operates broadly in the same crops as Saatzucht Gleisdorf but as part of a global portfolio.
• KWS SAAT SE & Co. KGaA: One of the world's largest plant breeding companies, headquartered in Germany, with deep presence in maize, sugar beet, cereals, and oilseeds. Operates broadly across the same crops as Saatzucht Gleisdorf but at vastly greater scale.
• Corteva Agriscience: Global seed and crop protection major with strong European presence through Pioneer and Brevant, covering maize, cereals, oilseeds, and forages. Overlaps with Saatzucht Gleisdorf in Central European field crops at a global scale.
• RAGT Semences: French cooperative seed company with a broad portfolio in cereals, maize, oilseeds, and legumes across Europe. Overlaps significantly with Saatzucht Gleisdorf's crop focus but serves a wider geography and is much larger.
• Limagrain: One of Europe's largest seed groups (cooperative-owned), active in field crops, vegetables, and cereals. Competes with Saatzucht Gleisdorf across cereals, maize, and oilseeds but at a much larger scale and broader geographic footprint.

Direct peers

• DSP Delley Samen und Pflanzen AG: Swiss plant breeding company that runs a joint hybrid maize breeding program with Saatzucht Gleisdorf since 2022. Highly comparable in size, scope (cereals, maize, legumes), and Central European/DACH market orientation.
• Saatbau Linz eGen: Austrian cooperative seed company headquartered in Linz, comparable in scale, ownership structure (cooperative), and crop focus (cereals, maize, soybeans, legumes). Directly competes with Saatzucht Gleisdorf in Austrian and Central European seed markets.
• IG Pflanzenzucht GmbH: Munich-based plant breeding cooperative in which Saatzucht Gleisdorf holds a shareholder stake since 1996. Directly comparable in structure, crop portfolio (cereals, maize, legumes), and Central European footprint.
• SaKa Pflanzenzucht GmbH & Co. KG: German family-owned plant breeder focused on sugar beet, maize, cereals, and oilseed crops. Comparable size, similar breeding intensity, and direct overlap in Central European field crop markets.

Others

• Die Saat: Austrian seed distribution organization that is the primary distribution channel for all Saatzucht Gleisdorf varieties. While not a direct competitor, it is closely tied as the go-to-market partner for soybean and other seed sales in Austria.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Saatzucht-Gleisdorf-GmbH-100069848855509
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/saatzucht-gleisdorf-gmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/saatzuchtgleisdorf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Seedculture Gleisdorf