b'PARTNER CONTENTFrom Cebeco to LimagrainBy: Vera RicicovL imagrain is one of the most successful and important Euro- requirements. 2008 was a turning point in the Czech brewing and pean companies in cereal breeding. In the Czech Republicmalt industry, as the Protected Geographical Indicationesk and Slovakia, it has the highest market share in the Euro- pivo was registered.pean market in a leading position. This, of course, also had an impact on the demand for variet-It all started in 1994, when the Dutch breeding company CE- ies suitable to produce Czech beer. This is where the foresight and BECO SEEDS GROUP founded Cebeco Seeds, s.r.o. in the Czechclose cooperation of our breeders and sales team with breweries Republic. With the ambition to become an essential breeding com- and the Research Institute of Brewing and Malting was shown, pany, Cebeco chose the private company Plant Select in Hrub ice asas the varieties from Hrub ice gained a dominant position in this a partner for further development. segment very quickly.The breeding station in Hrub ice is the cradle of modern vari- In the segment of varieties for Czech beer, the varieties from eties of spring barley. In Hrub ice, the so-called Diamond Seriesthe breeding station in Hrub ice hold an extremely significant of varieties were developed, which brought about advancementsshare and are crucial for Czech malthouses and breweries. These in quality, yield, and several other agronomic parameters. are mainly the varieties Bojos, Laudis 550, Malz, LG Stamgast, The Tolar barley variety became the first standard of qualityand the new LG Slovan.for the emerging direction of brewing. The motivation of the newCurrently, Limagrain has a market share of almost 60% in the direction was to return to the roots of Czech beer, which laterCzech Republic and more than 80% in Slovakia, which makes resulted in the registration of the Protected Geographical Indica- it the clear market leader in both countries. Limagrain also tionesk pivo. achieved significant success and progress in the winter wheat In 2002, DLF from Denmark took over the breeding activi- market, where it reached a market share of almost 25% in recent ties, and in 2006 sold the cereal breeding division to the Frenchyears, becoming the market leader in the Czech Republic and Slo-company Limagrain. Thanks to this acquisition, the team fromvakia. The leading varieties include LG Mocca, Dagmar, Avenue, Hrub ice gained access to new varieties and genetic resourcesLG Absalon, as well as several other varieties.from Limagrain. Even in winter barley, Limagrain one of the most important An important milestone was in 2002, when varieties Malz andcompanies on the market in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.Ebson were registered. In the Czech Republic, the Malz varietyThe development of our company is an example of how it is quickly became one of the most important varieties. possible to build a position of the market leader from a zero-start-In the Czech Republic, the demand for breweries and malting position. Through very close collaboration between the sales houses for varieties with parameters that met the new trend inand breeding team, with active cooperation from the processing beer brewinglower fermentation, and overall lower enzymaticindustryand most importantly, with extraordinary efforts and activitygrew. The Bojos variety, which was registered in 2005motivation of the teams combinedoutstanding results have and is still the standard of quality for Czech beer and the mostbeen, and will continue to be, achieved.cultivated variety in the Czech Republic, perfectly suited these OCTOBER 2023SEEDWORLD.COM /15'