Versatile corn – new ideas for a resilient tomorrow

Corn is not only the world’s most widely grown crop – it is also a true master of transformation. Whether as animal feed, human food or a source of energy, this plant is one of the most versatile crops in existence. Corn plays a key role in cereal crop rotations: however, it is increasingly subject to the conflicting pressures of commercial viability and climate change. As a leading European corn breeder, KWS rises to these challenges through product innovation and a focus on regional requirements, strengthening its position with varieties specifically bred for Europe’s conditions and markets.

Few crops offer the combination of yield, flexibility and adaptability that corn does. As a C4 plant, it uses light, water and nutrients particularly efficiently – an advantage especially in hot and dry regions such as Southeast Europe. While silage corn is harvested whole and preserved through ensiling to feed livestock, grain corn is harvested for its mature kernels, which are then further processed. Grain corn is beneficial in crop rotation – with positive effects for cereals, sunflowers and oilseeds, for example – and helps control weeds. It also plays a central role in animal nutrition.

But climate change is taking its toll: Dry conditions are causing increas-ing yield losses. In Romania, for example, grain corn has a long history of cultivation and remains economically attractive. “However, we are seeing some massive yield losses there due to drought. Before flowering, dry conditions affect the yield potential of the cob, while during flowering, drought stress impairs fertilization, and after flowering, the corn kernels fail to fill properly,” reports Dr. Andreas Groß, who heads up International Corn Product Management at KWS. To counteract this, KWS has adopted a targeted breeding strategy: The ClimaCONTROL3 program focuses on robust, high-performing varieties that are able to cope with drought stress in all three growth phases – before, during and after flowering. Synchronized flowering is particularly crucial: “For fertilization to be successful, the pollen of the male flowers must be present at exactly the right moment, just as the female flowers are ready to be fertilized,” explains the expert. Varieties such as KWS GIRO, which ripens late, and the new KWS LEMONDO offer particular reliability in this regard. “Drought stress during flowering is extremely critical for corn, and our varieties for France and South-eastern Europe are specifically bred to remain stable during this phase. The ClimaCONTROL3 label is the way forward for farmers.”

Maxagro: 4,500 hectares of corn – 70 percent from KWS

The Maxagro Group in Gătaia (Timiș County, Romania) demonstrates how this works in practice. The farm cultivates 22,000 hectares of arable land, including 4,500 hectares of grain corn, of which around 70 to 75 percent are KWS varieties. “Varieties from KWS have never let us down during the recent very dry years,” says owner Ioji Zifceak. “The biggest challenge is the heat, especially when it lasts for weeks on end and there are no cool nights. It’s years like these that show which hybrids stand their ground.”

Maxagro tests different varieties in the field every year, including varieties from other suppliers. The varieties KWS OLTENIO, KWS BANATO and, most recently, KWS GIRO regularly come out on top. “They deliver consistently good results.” Zifceak emphasizes the close cooperation: “The KWS team is genuinely interested in our problems and is always available. This open communication is very valuable.” He also finds the free digital support tools such as myKWS and AI-powered digital assistant KWS MAIA helpful. myKWS offers information on variety selection, sowing times, plant development and harvesting, as well as online documentation and a harvest planner. It is complemented by KWS MAIA, which combines regional cultivation data and soil properties with information on different varieties to provide tailor-made corn recommendations – individually for each region and each farm.

More sustainability with DryDown+

Another avenue of innovation at KWS is the DryDown+ breeding program. With this program, KWS aims to offer farmers in northern European growing regions new grain corn varieties that mature more completely. The result: lower grain moisture at harvest, which means less energy is needed for drying. This is because the water must be removed from the grain before it can be stored, otherwise it will start to mold. Two products are already available: KWS MARCOPOLO and KWS NEVO.

“In many regions, the post-harvest drying process is a significant cost and environmental factor,” explains Andreas Groß. “Our DryDown+ varieties have been developed to reach a grain moisture content of less than 20 percent by the threshing date. This saves natural gas and oil, reduces emissions and simplifies logistics.” These varieties also open up the possibility of growing corn in new regions – even where grain corn was previously too risky. “The aim is to make cultivation more resilient, but also more profitable,” says the product manager. “Not only is this a step forward for farmers, it also promotes sustainability.” Looking to the future, however, the potential has not yet been fully exploited. In the long term, the goal is to develop varieties that do not require any drying at all.

Silage corn: New hybrids for better farm performance

Silage corn is traditionally the strongest corn cultivation segment for KWS – especially in Germany, France and the Benelux countries. In contrast to grain corn, where only the ripe, dry kernels are harvested, silage corn is utilized in its entirety – either for animal feed or for biogas production. “Good silage corn doesn’t just deliver high yields that reliably supply the farm throughout the year. Thanks to its feed value, it also has a significant impact on the milk yield or meat gain of ruminants,” explains Groß. Newer KWS varieties boast targeted improvements in digestibility and energy density, thereby directly impacting farm profits. They also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in cattle farming.