Life at East-West Seed

We are driven by purpose

At East-West Seed, we put farmers at the heart of everything we do. In all our locations around the world – and from the office, the field and the laboratory – we all share the same passion for serving smallholder farmers with quality seeds and the knowledge they need to succeed.

During his many travels as marketing director of the family seeds business Sluis & Groot (now Syngenta) he had noticed the struggles faced by smallholder farmers in tropical regions and observed that low-quality seeds resulted in poor yields, perpetuating a cycle of poverty and malnutrition.

We celebrate diversity and teamwork

“It takes all kinds of people to make a successful seed company and it also takes all kinds of people to make farming more productive and also financially rewarding for farmers.”

Simon Groot, Founder of East-West Seed

Our workforce, with over 40 nationalities represented, is as diverse as our crops and the markets that we serve. We foster a workplace where individuals are encouraged to be themselves and celebrate their uniqueness.

To achieve our mission of improving farmers’ lives, we recognize the need for a variety of knowledge, skills, and traits. Just as we use “combining ability” in breeding vegetables for the best characteristics, we blend our employees’ unique strengths to create a more innovative and stronger team.

We are curious and innovative

We innovate to bring solutions to farmers. We provide our employees with the opportunity and space to be creative and curious. We believe that innovation thrives when we think outside the box and constantly seek improvements.

We embrace a growth mindset

Learning never stops at East-West Seed. We are committed to growing better people who deliver quality in every way, every day. We offer numerous professional development opportunities, including training and developmental assignments that encourage growth and mobility. Our employees also regularly engage in career conversations with our leaders.

We nurture well-being and work-life balance

The well-being of our employees is a priority. This is reflected in various health and fitness support programs and flexible work arrangement options that we offer.

Our flexible work arrangements cater to the changing needs of our team members, allowing for hybrid work options between home and office.

Our jobs also involve going on “mini adventures” like traveling to meet farmers, visiting markets, and learning from other East-West Seed locations. These experiences allow our employees to explore new places and gain valuable insights beyond the office.