About us

ABOUT KEYGENE

Technology innovation for crop improvement

Founded in 1989, KeyGene is the go-to research company for the development and application of breakthrough technology innovation. We do this for and with our shareholders and other partners, for crop improvement in for instance vegetables, fruits, ornamentals, and industrial field crops. With our intellectual capital, solution-driven approach, and collaborative spirit, we work for the future of sustainable global agriculture.

Our aim is to support organizations with their toughest R&D challenges, by revealing, understanding, and using accessible genetic variation, inducing desired variation and enhancing breeding efficiency. For that, we offer our 30 years of track record of successful technology innovation, executed by powerful project teams that include experts in relevant disciplines like Data science, DNA- and RNA technology, Proteomics & Metabolomics, Cell- & Tissue technology, Genome Editing, Trait technologies, and Genomic Breeding Tools.

We work in an international environment with more than 150 professionals from all over the world. Our company is based in Wageningen, the Netherlands, in Rockville, MD, USA, and in Hyderabad, India.

Learn about our business locations:

KeyGene the Netherlands

KeyGene USA

KeyGene India

KEYGENE & SOCIETY
About us

"We are driven by innovation to make a difference by harnessing plant science and translating it into technology innovation that really matters. In that light we find it important to contribute to the big societal challenges at all levels". 

Roeland van Ham - CEO KeyGene

Big societal challenges

Global challenges demand for better adapted, disease resistant crops. Also, consumers want high quality, affordable and safe food. Read more about KeyGene’s contribution.

Our local and regional connection

Major societal challenges have both a global and local dimension. We find it important to be actively involved in both. Read more about our support to local initiatives.

keygene management
Roeland van Ham
Roeland van Ham
CEO
Marcel van Verk
Marcel van Verk
VP Crop Data Science
Harrold van den Burg
Harrold van den Burg
VP Innovation for Crops
Walter Nelson
Walter Nelson
CEO KeyGene USA
Nathalie van Orsouw
Nathalie van Orsouw
VP Technology Development
Fedde Visser
Fedde Visser
VP Finance & Control
Thea van der Wijk
Thea van der Wijk
VP Intellectual Property & Legal Affairs
Remco Gertsen
Remco Gertsen
HR Manager
Marleen Zilstra
Marleen Zilstra
Secretary to the Board
Strategic shareholders
KeyGene was founded in 1989 by a number of Dutch seed companies

Their goal was and is to create synergy and higher efficiency in their molecular genetic research programs and thus improve their breeding efforts.

At the time of its foundation, KeyGene employed three people. Since then KeyGene has grown continuously and expanded its facilities considerably several times.

Today, KeyGene has some 150 employees originating from 10+ countries and is owned by four strategic shareholders active in the field of vegetable breeding.