Despite ongoing pressures on arable farm businesses, greater choice across crops and varieties is creating new opportunities for growers to manage risk and build more resilient businesses, according to KWS.

Speaking at Cereals 2026, KWS highlighted how its sustained investment in crop breeding – with 20% of global turnover being reinvested annually in research and development – is delivering stronger genetics and a wider range of cropping options at a time when every hectare must work harder.

Kate Cobbold, head of product management and agroservice at KWS, said: “Despite the pressures facing the industry, there are genuine reasons for optimism. Growers today have access to some of the strongest genetics we've ever seen, alongside a broader range of cropping options and routes to market.

"The progress made through plant breeding over the past decade has been significant. Higher yields remain important, but genetic gain is also delivering improvements in disease resistance, input-use efficiency and overall crop resilience."

Encouraging growers to view crop and variety choice as a strategic business decision, she added: "The businesses best placed to succeed will be those that take advantage of the diversity of options available to them and consider productivity not just in terms of headline yield, but also in terms of consistency, resilience and overall system performance."

While wheat will remain the foundation of most arable businesses, KWS believes greater diversity within rotations will play an increasingly important role in helping growers spread risk, improve resilience and respond to changing market conditions.

Oilseed rape is one example, said Rory Hannam, KWS product manager for oats, oilseed rape, peas and rye.

"After several difficult seasons, last year reminded many growers of the value oilseed rape can bring to a rotation when conditions are right," he said.

"Continued breeding progress, including new hybrid material such as KWS Domingos, is helping maintain confidence in the crop and OSR has the potential to be a stand-out crop on farm again this year."

The same principle applies across the wider rotation. Hybrid barley variety Inys continues to raise performance expectations, offering growers another option where it fits the rotation and business need.

Meanwhile, maize is attracting renewed interest from growers because of its flexibility across forage, grain, anaerobic digestion and contract-growing markets.

Matt Bull, agroservice manager at KWS, said: "There’s no single answer to the pressures growers face and resilience comes from having options and using them effectively.

“Rotations need to deliver against multiple objectives, from managing disease and workload to supporting cashflow and market opportunities.”

He said it all starts with the seed; genetics give growers the foundation to manage those risks and that's why KWS continues to invest not only in wheat breeding but across a wide range of crops.