Marleen and Hendrik-Jan - Managing Director Agro & Strategy at Avebe & Manager at Averis, Averis
Averis Seeds breeding company plays a crucial role in the strategy of Royal Avebe cooperative. Over the past five years, the subsidiary has made good progress in breeding activities. Now it's time to make strides.
Marleen and Hendrik-Jan, managing director agro & strategy at avebe and manager at averis
For Marleen de Rond, Avebe was in her top three of desired employers after working at companies such as FrieslandCampina and ForFarmers. Hendrik-Jan Schepel gave his very first presentation in elementary school about Avebe and decided to stay there after his graduation assignment in 1998. Both have a deep love for the cooperative. Averis is a 100 percent subsidiary of Avebe and focuses on innovation, development, and multiplication of starch potato varieties as well as trading. Thus, the breeding company is a strategically crucial pillar for Avebe.
How unique is the position of Avebe-Averis?
Marleen: "Avebe is one of the few companies that has a breeding company within its ranks. Averis aims to provide Avebe members, the growers, with the best quality seed potatoes, in the right volumes and varieties. Starch potatoes with the right characteristics such as high yield, (double) disease resistance, and good scores on environmental impact, nitrogen, and fertilization."
As Avebe shifts towards high-quality protein derivatives for plant-based applications, the cooperative is moving further away from the bulk starch market. What does this move mean for Averis?
Hendrik-Jan: "Since then, our breeding program has focused even more on increasing the starch content. Starch content means yield for the farmer; the earning potential of this crop in the crop rotation plays a major role at present and in the future. In addition, protein is also playing an increasingly important role. We are also unique in that protein focus. Furthermore, the emphasis remains on varieties that yield more profit, on the varying phytosanitary challenges, and we continue to work on efficient and sustainable varieties."
How does Averis play a significant role in Avebe's Strengthen and Accelerate strategy?
Hendrik-Jan: "To capitalize on the opportunities in the potato starch and potato protein market, potato cultivation needs to be taken to a higher level in terms of aspects such as yield and resistances. The major steps forward will mainly come from breeding. It is my personal drive to contribute to this. Developing varieties that are significantly better than the current market varieties is what I do it for."
And? Are your varieties better?
Hendrik-Jan: "If you had asked me that five years ago, I would have been more cautious in my answer, but now I dare say that we currently have the best starch potato varieties. Averis is at the forefront in the number of resistances, and we are doing everything to maintain that lead. It is also remarkable that we have the first starch potato variety with chitwoodi resistance. So, things are moving along nicely!"
How have you achieved this success?
Marleen: "Averis is the only breeding company in the world that has 100 percent focus on starch potatoes. In other companies, the crop - the potato, that is - often comes in third or fourth place. In Valthermond, there is an ultra-modern lab where advanced equipment and groundbreaking techniques, such as robotics, automate routine tasks. With drones and imaging, we elevate tuber selection to a higher level. We have a test field and a strong connection with our own growers where you can directly see the impact of your work. This makes our production sites ready for the future! A future where collaboration with other parties also strengthens our position."
Which innovations do you expect the most from?
Marleen: “We are on the eve of new innovations and technologies to further accelerate breeding programs. Think of hybrid breeding, the use of spectral cameras, and the application of molecular markers. Another exciting challenge for the coming years is a method to determine quantitative traits using DNA techniques. Currently, starch and protein content are only determined in the field with various observational methods. Our ambition is to further develop this so we can trace this information in the DNA. Then we can really make strides!”
Quite an ambitious level.
Marleen: “That's right, seizing the opportunities in the societal protein transition and the transition to more plant-based, expanding acreage in Germany, and further developing the current Strengthen and Accelerate strategy. And all this in a world that doesn't stand still. That's why we are looking for a site director who will become the face of Averis, has a strong connection with Avebe, and will further build on success.”
What kind of team are you doing this with?
Hendrik-Jan: “Traditionally, it's a group of hard workers who are there for each other. I see it a bit as the Groningen-Drenthe no-nonsense mentality. It has its charm to do it together with about twenty people. If it's busy in the lab, someone from the greenhouse jumps in, and vice versa. And in summer, everyone helps out on the trial fields for a few days. Colleagues really see those outdoor days as an outing. And it's also a nice change from the daily tasks.”
Photographer: Jan Buwalda
[Published: March 2024]
