MAY 2026 | SEEDWORLD.COM/EUROPE I SEED WORLD EUROPE I 9 LAURA SWINKELS Leek Breeder at BASF | Nunhems, Netherlands Laura Swinkels is the leek breeder at BASF | Nunhems in the Netherlands, working on one of Europe’s most important vegetable crops. With seven years of experience in plant breeding, she has already developed a strong reputation for combining scientific rigour with a clear understanding of growers’ needs. Laura focuses on improving yield, quality and sustainability in leek production while addressing practical challenges faced by growers and plant raisers. One example of her work is the integration of improved cleanability and uniformity across breeding segments, helping growers increase efficiency and productivity, particularly as labour costs rise and mechanisation becomes more important. She is also advancing resistance breeding against diseases such as rust and pests like thrips, contributing to reduced reliance on chemical treatments. Looking ahead, Laura sees genomic selection and artificial intelligence as powerful tools to increase breeding efficiency. At the same time, she emphasises the importance of delivering robust, high quality varieties that remain resilient under diverse growing conditions and evolving market demands. GAMZE ALAGÖZ Cucumber Breeder at KWS Vegetables, Türkiye Gamze Alagöz is a cucumber breeder at KWS Vegetables in Antalya, Türkiye, combining strong scientific training with a practical, hands on approach to crop improvement. She holds a Master of Science in plant breeding and genetics from the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Zaragoza (IAMZ CIHEAM), where she developed a solid foundation in modern breeding techniques. In her work, Gamze has contributed to advancing parthenocarpic cucumber breeding by introducing a novel single seed descent approach that enables earlier identification of promising genetic material and helps shorten breeding cycles. This work supports more efficient variety development while maintaining a strong focus on quality and performance for growers. Gamze believes the future of plant breeding will rely increasingly on the integration of data driven methods, sustainability goals and emerging technologies. In her view, combining modern breeding tools with practical field knowledge will be essential to develop resilient, high performing varieties that meet the needs of both producers and consumers. QUENTIN DUPRAT Sorghum Breeder at RAGT, France Quentin Duprat is part of a new generation of plant breeders combining scientific innovation with a strong sense of purpose. Originally from Mayotte Island, he began his career at CIRAD in Réunion Island, where he worked on improving resistance to Ralstonia in local crop varieties, addressing real challenges faced by farmers in demanding growing conditions. He later joined RAGT, where he has progressed rapidly from assistant breeder to sorghum breeder. Quentin is particularly passionate about sorghum, which he considers a strategic crop for the future of agriculture thanks to its strong performance in climate smart, low input farming systems. In his work, he has introduced advanced breeding approaches such as genomic prediction and factorial design methods, significantly improving breeding efficiency and enabling faster decision making. He also led the development of counter season breeding activities in Senegal, increasing the number of breeding cycles per year. Quentin believes innovation in breeding will be essential to develop resilient crops that can support farmers in an increasingly uncertain climatic and agricultural landscape.
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