Simon Groot was a true pioneer whose vision and commitment transformed the lives of farmers around the world. His passion not only shaped the foundation of East-West Seed but also left a lasting impact on millions of farming families globally.
A Vision Rooted in Farmers’ Needs
Groot founded East-West Seed in the Philippines in 1982, after realizing that the modernization of plant breeding — particularly the use of hybrids — had largely bypassed tropical regions, with the notable exception of hybrid cabbage from Japan. Local seed supplies of open-pollinated varieties were inconsistent in quality, making crop outcomes unpredictable and unreliable for farmers.
Groot soon realized his two main objectives; the development of new hybrid varieties for the main fruit-vegetables for the tropics; and the stabilization of the new quality of OP crops (all leafy vegetables, green legume crops, onions and quite a few more) needed a local breeding facility and capacity.
“I saw development potential over there,” Groot said during an interview with Seed World Europe in 2019. “There was only a small market yet for vegetable seeds, farmers were saving their own seeds. The consumption of vegetables was high and was more profitable than agricultural crops. With our seeds, small farmers could produce more and have a higher income.”
World Food Prize
On October 17, 2019, Groot was awarded the World Food Prize.
Often referred to as the “Nobel Prize for Food,” the 2019 award recognized Groot’s extraordinary achievements and the impact of East-West Seed over four decades. His work was recognized for revitalizing both rural and urban vegetable markets, helping to make nutritious produce more accessible and affordable for millions of families each year.
Then president of the World Food Prize Foundation Kenneth M. Quinn said like Dr. Norman Borlaug before him, “Simon Groot has dedicated his life to improving the livelihoods of millions around the world.
“He and his company have, in effect, developed an impactful global network of seed producers who are transforming the lives of 20 million farmers every year. For this extraordinary accomplishment, he truly deserves to be named the 2019 World Food Prize Laureate.”
The World According to Groot
In our Seed World Europe 2017 article featuring Groot, he spoke about how he set out to improve the income of smallholder farmers in the tropics through high-quality seeds.
“East-West Seed has always had a strong small farmer orientation, small farmers being the great majority of the multi-million-hectare vegetable farming industry in Southeast Asia,” Groot said. “Farmer income growth results in market growth. Input suppliers like seed-suppliers in developing markets are more dependent on long-term market growth than on short-term results.”
Groot said that one of the components of East-West Seed Company is the pride they take in their partnerships. Groot said the transferring of their knowledge is a key driver to the success they have in smaller rural communities.
“At several stages of our development, such partnerships provided good combinations of expertise to enhance the process of farmer- and market-development. As a seedsman and economist, I feel great pride in having created growth potential of farmers income. Quality seed has created substantial added value for small vegetable farmers, especially in combination with knowledge transfer about optimal use of the seed.
“Historically, agricultural development worldwide has benefited from free movement of crop genetics, as long as phytosanitary risks are well considered and maximally prevented,” said Groot.
Statement from ISF
ISF Secretary General Michael Keller said: “Mr. Groot was an exemplary seedsman who embodied ISF’s core values of collaboration, integrity, innovation, and sustainability. He had a clear and unwavering vision of what the private seed sector can — and should — contribute to society: to uplift the lives of all farmers and their communities through access to high-quality seeds and improved varieties.
“Beyond his own company’s impact, Mr. Groot and East-West Seed have been longstanding and valued contributors to the work of ISF, dedicating their time and expertise to our joint mission of ensuring quality seed is accessible to all, supporting sustainable agriculture and food security. Mr. Groot will be profoundly missed, but his legacy will no doubt inspire generations to come,” Keller added.
Share Your Thoughts
East-West Seed has a page you can go to and share your thoughts on Simon Groot’s impact. Click here for the East-West memorial page.
“You have to share your knowledge to come to a better world.”
– Simon Groot
