Our History
Seedtech is owned and operated by the Power family, who have been trading in seed from Waterford since 1859 when established as William Power & Co.
William Power & Co. the business began as a Plant Nursery at Ballinakill and Seed Merchants at King Street Waterford.
In 1903 Williams son Frank took over the reins developing a florist shop, and later, the business was appointed as handlers for tobacco production in southeast Ireland.
In 1946 William Power & Co. was incorporated as Power Seeds Ltd by Frank Power’s son Willie. Over the following years, Willie developed a brand focused on quality called ‘Pure Line’ and increased his reach by recruiting a sales representative in every county in Ireland.
In 1977 Power Seeds was sold and Declan, son of Willie, started a new seed business at the nursery site at Ballymountain, Waterford. This business evolved into the Irish arm of Nickerson’s Seeds, part of the Royal Dutch Shell Group. The company traded as Nickerson Irish Plant Breeders Ltd. and was to the fore in bringing modern plant genetics to Irish farmers.
In 1984 Mr Declan Power secured a management buyout of Nickerson Irish Plant Breeders Ltd. and changed the name to Seed Technology Ltd. (Seedtech).
Roy Power, the second eldest son of Declan Power, joined the business in 1987 and is the fifth generation of the Power family to be involved in the seed sector in Ireland.
Today, Seed Technology Ltd is managed by Roy, who has overseen significant investment and expansion of the Seedtech business during his tenure as Managing Director.
Seedtech has developed one of the most modern and advanced seed processing facilities in Europe and operates one of the largest independent trialling systems in Ireland. This investment will support further diversification within the seed sector and demonstrates a commitment to supporting a progressive and sustainable Irish Agri-Sector.
Take a look through these National Archive images here:
1859 William Power & Co. established.
1903 second generation at the helm. William’s son Frank succeeds him as head of the business.
1903 National archive image.
Archive image from Christmas.
1932 Power Seeds attends Cork Industrial Fair.
1934 Tobacco production begins. William Power & Co. start tobacco production and breeding under the guidance of American tobacco expert JN Keller, on loan from the Virginian State Authorities.
1938 three generations in business. William Power succeeds his father, Frank as head of the business.
The first plantation of tobacco ever grown in Ireland on a commercial basis was sown by Messrs. Power & Co. at their nurseries at Ballinakill in the early 1930’s. Read more here
Workers at William Power & Company tomato plantation Dunmore Road, Waterford.
Nursery stock forestry trees ready for planting.
1945 with the end of WWII and the removal of subsidies, tobacco production ceases.
1946 Name change to Power Seeds Ltd. William Power & Co. is incorporated as Power Seeds Ltd.
Power Seeds Offices, O’Connell Street, Waterford.
Trading counter at Power Seeds Offices, O’Connell Street, Waterford.
Inside Power Seeds Offices, O’Connell Street, Waterford.
1978 over one century in business. William Power sells Power Seeds. Declan Power leaves Power Seeds but retains Powers Nurseries and becomes MD of Nickerson Plant Breeders Ltd in Ireland, part of Royal Dutch Shell.
1986 granting of ISO 9000.
2000’s Seedtech begins contract production of hybrid OSR seed for export. This is a premium crop for growers and provides employment for a significant number of contractors in the local economy.
Seed intake and drying facility at Ballymountain
1984 Seed Technology established. Declan Power, the fourth generation secures a management buyout of Nickerson Irish Plant Breeders Ltd. and changes the name to Seed Technology Ltd. (Seedtech).
1987 refocussing efforts. After 129 years of trading, Powers Nurseries is wound down to allow the company to focus on the growing the Seedtech seed business.
1990 research at the heart of the business. Seedtech develops its own in-house variety research farm.
1999 innovating agri for five generations. Roy Power becomes the fifth generation of the Power family to lead the business, succeeding Declan Power as group CEO and majority shareholder.
2017 Offical opening of Belview Seed Processing Plant.
2017 new seed processing facility built. A new state of the art seed processing and distribution hub, an investment of €5m representing a significant investment in the future of the Irish Agricultural Seed Industry.
This 52,000 ft² plant features the most sophisticated, technically advanced machinery available for the seed industry. With a specification engineered to process high-value cereal and grass seed, along with premium grains for the food industry. This investment will support further diversification within the seed sector and demonstrates a commitment to supporting a progressive and sustainable Irish Agri-Sector.
2020 research expanded to produce high value seed varieties for tillage farmers to secure a sustainable and profitable future in arable farming for the next generation.
Loading seed varieties following processing
Research trial grounds at harvest in 2021.