Simon Groot celebrates 90th birthday

As East-West Seed founder Simon Groot celebrated his 90th birthday on October 25, it provides an opportunity to honor his lasting impact and reflect on the future. Under his leadership, what began as a small initiative in 1982 on a five-hectare farm outside Lipa City, Batangas, has transformed into a global leader in vegetable breeding. Today, East-West Seed proudly serves millions of farmers across 80 tropical countries, improving vegetable seed quality, helping farmers grow better crops, and enabling them to earn better incomes.

October 24 also celebrates the entire East-West Seed community- its employees, partners, and the farmers and distributors who have carried Simon's mission forward. Simon Groot's vision has become a reality, thanks to the hard work and dedication of thousands of people who continue to commit their time and energy to the mission.

In the video below, Simon Groot shares his thoughts on the power of people.

Equally, as East-West Seed celebrated Simon Groot's birthday, the company also looked to the challenges that lie ahead. It is certain that the world has changed dramatically since the early days of East-West Seed. Global agriculture is entering a new phase where sustainability, climate resilience, and resource efficiency will be key. Today, farmers face new and growing challenges such as unpredictable weather patterns and the pressure to produce more food with fewer resources. These challenges are especially acute in tropical regions like Africa, Latin America, and Asia, where millions of smallholder farmers depend on agriculture for their livelihoods.

Nevertheless, Simon has always been ahead of the curve in addressing these issues, and it is our collective responsibility as employees of East-West Seed to continue driving that spirit of innovation forward. East-West Seed is already working on climate-resilient seeds, and empowering farmers by providing training to 150,000 farmers annually through East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer Foundation to ensure that future generations can thrive.