Groupe Limagrain is the No.1 seed company in Europe, No.2 worldwide for vegetable seeds, and No.4 largest seed company worldwide.
Limagrain is a cooperative of farmers created in Auvergne (France) in 1942. During the last 40 years, its turnover has been multiplied by one hundred. Its board is composed of farmers from Auvergne. This cooperative holds 70% of Vilmorin & Cie on the Paris stock market. Vilmorin holds all the « field seeds and vegetable seeds ». The other activities of the Group are: the production of cereal ingredients for the food industry and green chemistry, and the production of industrial bread with the Jacquet brand, number 2 on the French market.
Our activities not only cover the food sector, with the production of plant seeds, but also the non-food sector, for example bioplastics. Our research provides technological solutions for producing more and better, with the increase of crop yields meaning that plants can capture more CO2. Our research strives to improve the efficiency of cultivated varieties to make sure water and nitrogen are used more efficiently, and to better protect plants against aggressors while reducing the need for chemicals.
The Group has been present for 18 years in China, especially through its research activities, which have enabled the Group to make interesting contributions to China, particularly in the field of plant improvement: maize, wheat and vegetable seeds. In all these subjects, we contribute to improve the expertise of China with regard to biotechnologies, particularly through the techniques of genomics.
Since 1993, we have also been distributors of vegetable seeds through our brands: Vilmorin, Clause, Tezier, Harris Moran, Hazera, Nickerson Zwaan and Mikado Kyowa Seeds.
Even if our activities remain modest, they are growing and our investments in research, initiated 18 years ago to create varieties adapted to the different territories of China, are beginning to bear their fruits. We believe that cooperation development between Groupe Limagrain and the Chinese players from the sector would be of benefit to the two parties.
Our businesses involve, by definition, long-term research activities. We therefore wish to develop lasting cooperation with China.
Our wish is to participate in the consolidation currently being conducted in the Chinese sector for seeds. Groupe Limagrain can be a useful ally in achieving that purpose, through its domains of expertise, particularly in maize, wheat and vegetable seeds.
Moreover, our know-how in biotechnology with a non-food vocation could enable China to provide solutions to certain environmental challenges.
Finally, our experience can be useful in the field of bakery products and ingredients for the agri-food industry (Limagrain is a supplier for the most demanding baby-food companies).
Our goal is to develop these different businesses in China.

Groupe Limagrain - February 2011

A French cooperative committed to
Improve the food security around the world