Founded in 1982 by Dutch seedsman Simon Groot, the 2019 World Food Prize Laureate, East-West Seed is one of the world's leading vegetable seed companies in Asia and expanding rapidly in Africa and Latin America. The privately-owned company has played an important role in the development and improvement of tropical vegetable varieties that are adapted to tropical markets and growing conditions. Its mission is to provide innovative products and services that help to improve the livelihood of vegetable farmers. In addition, East-West Seed trains vegetable farmers in order to help maximize their yield and income through better knowledge on vegetable production and farming skills.In 2019 it ranked number 1 on the Access to Seeds Index for Global Seed Companies and number 1 for South and Southeast Asia Index. In 2020, it ranked #28 in Fortune's Change the World list of companies that are doing well by doing good. East-West Seed has its headquarters in Nonthaburi, Thailand. The company employs about 2,800 people and has 20 R&D establishments in 9 countries. With exports to over 75 countries in tropical areas, East-West Seed serves nearly 23 million farmers around the world.