EAST-WEST SEED E-MAGAZINE
CELEBRATING THE WOMEN BEHIND OUR INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS
KARINA VAN LEEUWEN East-West Seed Crop Breeding Manager
Karina Van Leeuwen is one of East-West Seed’s Crop Breeding Managers based in the Simon Groot Research Center in Chiang Mai, Thailand. In our final article on this series for women’s month celebration, we proudly present Karina’s story on how she contributes her talent and passion towards developing improved vegetable varieties for the benefit of farmers.
As a woman in the field of innovative agriculture, how are you contributing to making the world better through the products that you develop? We keep the farmer in mind when we design our breeding programs. We constantly ask ourselves: “How can we help the farmers to get a better income?� Once,  I spoke to a local farmer
' We care about our farmers. We make sure that our innovative breeding programs are suitable for them.'
during a trip with my team, he shared with us how our seeds have changed his life. He showed me his new tricycle which he bought from his last tomato harvest. He was so happy and proud that he now could bring his kids to school and could deliver his produce to the market himself. Our breeding programs also have a focus on developing greater resistances, which help farmers spray less chemicals on their crops.
' This makes it safer and cheaper for the farmer and ultimately it is also safer to eat for consumers.'
HOW DO YOU SEE YOURSELF AS A WOMAN CROP BREEDING MANAGER (CBM)? The fact is, I don't see myself as a 'woman CBM', I see myself as a CBM. I grew up with two older brothers and both of my parents never acted differently towards their sons and their daughter. The way we were treated was the equal for all three of us, including the house rules (such as dishes, laundry and cooking) and the encouragement to study further.
'I don't see myself as a woman crop breeding manager, I see myself as a crop breeding manager.'
Karina with her daughter at an East-West Seed field day.
With this upbringing it was possible to follow my dreams, study what I enjoy and search for work that makes me happy. So I did. Honestly, I work hard and always aim to make beautiful products - but I am never conscious of being a woman in my career.
'Follow your dreams, study what you enjoy and search for work that makes you happy.'
