On the 15th of June, DLF Seeds A/S and Florimond Desprez signed an agreement in which DLF acquires Florimond Desprez’ alfalfa seed breeding and commercial activities.
As a result of this transfer, DLF now owns the breeding programme, varieties, seed stocks, and commercial agreements of Florimond Desprez’ alfalfa activity. The personnel assigned to the programme remain Florimond Desprez employees. The parties have signed a service agreement for the continuation of the alfalfa breeding programme at the Florimond Desprez site in Cappelle-en-Pévèle.
According to Truels Damsgaard, CEO of DLF, “Alfalfa is an important addition to DLF’s product range for milk producers. Alfalfa is one of the major forage species in many areas around the world, so strategically the distribution of alfalfa in addition to forage grass and clover enhances our overall product range.
According to François Desprez, Chairman of Florimond Desprez, “Florimond Desprez has never been a specialist in forage seeds. When DLF approached us, we considered that our alfalfa breeding programme, which has always produced high-quality varieties, would have better conditions for development in the hands of a world leader in the forage seed industry. What’s more, the transfer provides new perspectives for development for our breeding team.”
DLF is committed to the optimal development of the existing commercial relations and agreements put in place by Florimond Desprez.
Florimond Desprez is an independent family company founded in 1830 in the North of France. Today the group is one of the leaders in the global sugar beet seed market, and one of Europe’s top seed producers. The company develops research programmes for sugar and fodder beet, as well as cereals and proteins such as peas and alfalfa.
Florimond Desprez’ varieties are grown in 65 countries. The group has 938 employees in 16 countries, and an annual turn over of 230 million euros.
DLF is the global leader in forage and other grass seeds. The group has 800 employees in 13 countries around the world. DLF has an international network operating in over 80 countries for seed production and sales. DLF has been a shareholder of Danespo since 1996. The group is a cooperative owned by 3,500 Danish farmers, with a revenue of 454 million euros in 2014-2015.
