In the last decades enormous progress has been achieved in plant breeding with respect to yield capacity, yield stability and product quality. In parallel, the agricultural market is getting more and more differentiated. On one hand, there is a trend towards the development of health-supporting food products. On the other hand, the plants are the source for renewable raw materials and bio-energy. This way, the development of new and different aspects and techniques is a challenge for modern plant breeding.

With the application of „SMART breeding“ („Selection with Markers and Advanced Reproductive Technologies") new, optimized plant varieties can be produced within shorter times and with lower costs in development.