Our research

Plant breeding, at the heart of innovation

An age-old skill, plant breeding is today, like agriculture, resolutely focused on innovation.
The job of a breeder has changed from being a highly knowledgeable agronomist to an ecosystem of different scientists working towards common goals. Experts in pathology, genetics, biometrics, biotechnology and the ‘omics’ harness their knowledge to help plant breeders innovate more precisely, efficiently and rapidly.

Research partnerships to move forward together

Research is also supported by public/private collaborative programmes that enable companies and organisations to leverage each other’s skills and expertise to address complex issues and advance together.
The Florimond Desprez Group is currently involved in a number of joint projects.
For cereals, projects backed by the Plant Variety Support Fund (FSOV – Fonds de Soutien à l’Obtention Végétal) and Special Allocation Fund for Agricultural and Rural Development (CASDAR – Compte d’affection Spécial au Développement Agricole et Rural), which aim to support the ecological transition and support sustainable agriculture, are conducted in conjunction with scientists from a wide variety of backgrounds.
For sugar beet, the FLAVIE programme – a PNRI – French National Plan for research and innovation programme – brings together five of the biggest seed companies on the French market to combat the devastating effects of viral yellowing: Betaseed, Florimond Desprez, KWS, MariboHilleshög and SESVanderHave. They have the ambitious goal of introducing varieties which are both competitive and resistant to yellowing viruses in official French trials from 2024.