History

The time was ripe to breed and propagate vegetable seeds on organic farms in Austria as well. In the spring of 1998, we started to implement this idea with great enthusiasm together with a group of DEMETER and Bio Austrian farmers and gardeners in St. Leonhard.

We were able to build on the experience in seed production gathered by Deutscher und Österreichischer Initiativkreis für Gemüsesaatgut aus biologisch-dynamischem Anbau (German and Austrian Initiative for the production of vegetable seeds from biodynamic cultivation). The next task was to continue working on what already existed, to multiply and to further experiment with new things in various trials. Of course, some of our growers had to overcome all sorts of hindrances, since the seed production is associated with certain risks in our latitudes.

Two new greenhouses for the cultivation were erected in St. Leonhard, the central seed treatment plant of Österreichischer Initiativkreis was set up at ReinSaat and the ReinSaat GesnbR was founded.

In order to minimize the risk of crop failures caused by negative weather impacts, ReinSaat erected another 4 greenhouses on the company’s premises in 2001, enabling it to extend the natural growing season in a protected environment. This ensured the maturation process of the seeds to be released for sale.

In 2005, the diversity of the seed varieties as well as time-consuming breeding programs required the construction of the next greenhouse which complemented the cultivation and breeding area that stretched over 1 hectare.

In 2007, ReinSaat GesnbR was converted into ReinSaat® KG.

The successful breeding of numerous new varieties and the outstanding quality of open-pollinated assortments of ReinSaat confirmed that the company was on the right path.

However, we and our propagation farms, which are closely involved in the processes of variety development as permanent cooperation partners, are confronted with new challenges on a daily basis.

The demand for open-pollinated and hybrid-free vegetable varieties as well as the demand for the high quality of our products is constantly rising. The ReinSaat team, headed by Reinhild Frech Emmelmann, is aware of the responsible task to continue providing our demanding customers with sustainably produced open-pollinated seeds of best quality.