From Academia to Application: CEPLAS ECRs Explore Plant Breeding at BASF | Nunhems

© CEPLAS

© CEPLAS

© CEPLAS

© CEPLAS

Written by CEPLAS Early Career Researchers Yi Wang & Nathaniel O. Oragbon

On June 5 2025, a group of early career researchers from CEPLAS went on an excursion to BASF | Nunhems, located in the Dutch village Nunhem. Originally established in 1916 by the Meddens family, BASF | Nunhems has since grown into a global leader in vegetable seed production and now operates under the umbrella of BASF's Agricultural Solutions division. This visit offered a unique opportunity to explore the dynamic intersection of cutting-edge research and commercial plant breeding.

Arriving and Company Presentation

The researchers arrived at BASF | Nunhems in the morning. The weather was cloudy and a little cold, but they were warmly welcomed by Professor Jan van den Berg, the lead of scouting & partnering R&D. Walking through the quiet and beautiful historic park, the researchers entered a small castle where Jan delivered an engaging opening presentation to the CEPLAS researchers, setting the tone for the day’s visit.

Jan introduced the history and core business of BASF | Nunhems to the researchers. Interestingly, he highlighted that BASF | Nunhems breeds seeds of 20 different vegetable crops tailored to the global market-- including leeks, lettuces, tomatoes, and artichokes, which are popular in supermarkets. He also showed that BASF | Nunhems is a strong R&D company, particularly in breeding vegetables that are resilient to future challenges such as climate change, disease pressure and rising labour costs. For example, he showed how BASF | Nunhems’ hybrid artichokes exhibit improved resistance to drought. Jan’s presentation offered the CEPLAS researchers a valuable overview of BASF | Nunhems as an innovative and forward-looking company.

Guided Tours to the Genotyping Laboratory and Seed Processing Factory

After the introductory talk, CEPLAS researchers were taken on guided tours to the genotyping lab and seed processing factory, and accompanied by Jan and Dr. Markus C. Berns, Integrated Breeding Team Lead.

In the genotyping lab, CEPLAS researchers observed how large-scale genotyping of plants is performed in BASF | Nunhems in a robot-assisted workflow. For example, a combination of Array Tapes and water bath thermocyclers can process 230,400 PCR reactions in a single run-- a scale and efficiency that far exceed those in typical academic research facilities.

The subsequent visit to the seed processing factory provided insight into the full seed processing workflow, which includes seed reception, conditioning, seed priming, coating/pelleting, packaging and final storage for the market. Each of the two tours lasted an hour, offering the CEPLAS researchers a valuable opportunity to gain firsthand insight into the industrial R&D process in BASF | Nunhems, and to reflect on the contrasts between academia and industry in the field of plant science.

Lecture on Plant Breeding and Discussion

After the tours, Jos Suelmann, Lead Breeder, gave a short yet insightful lecture on the fundamentals of the plant breeding cycles. He explained that a typical breeding cycle begins with clear objectives, germplasm generation and selection, all aimed at developing successful strains that meet evaluation benchmarks. The researchers were very excited about plant research being done as evidenced by the question-and-answer section that followed. They asked questions about the specific objectives of breeding, the teamwork, and the roles of scientists. The researchers also discussed a lot about natural and artificial sources of genetic variations in breeding. The interesting discussions greatly enhanced the understanding of CEPLAS researchers regarding the work being done in BASF | Nunhems.

After this impressive visit, the CEPLAS researchers made their way back to Düsseldorf and Köln, minds buzzling with insight and possibilities, and one thing was clear:  BASF | Nunhems created chemistry! The visit was more than just a tour—it was a powerful bridge between cutting-edge academic research and real-world plant breeding innovation. By stepping into the world of industry, the researchers gained not only practical perspectives but also forged connections that could shape the future of collaborative R&D. It was a day of new insights and inspiration!