DSV invests 5.2 million euros in France

Opening of the new seed breeding station: from left to right, DSV Member of Executive Board Johannes Peter Angenendt, French station manager Sylvain Martinon, Chairman of the Supervisory Board Friedhelm Hüneke, Member of Executive Board Clive Krückemeyer and Head of Breeding Dr. Dieter Stelling

Deutsche Saatveredelung AG (DSV) has invested 5.2 million euros in the construction of a new French seed breeding station in Terminiers. DSV breeds and tests wheat, barley, oilseed rape and forage and turf grasses for the French market at various locations in France.

DSV has been actively involved in France for several years, where a large proportion of DSV seed multiplication is done and distributed all around the world. Furthermore, there is a sales team which is responsible for the French market. DSV wheat, oilseed rape and grass varieties have built up a long-standing reputation here.

The company has been running French breeding programmes since 2007 to offer French farmers varieties adapted to local conditions. Up to now, DSV France Sarl has cultivated winter wheat, winter barley and winter oilseed rape at the Semonville site as well as forage and turf grasses in Les Rosiers. The growing volume of breeding activities and associated scale of production, especially for wheat, has prompted DSV to strongly invest in new facilities.
Terminiers in the Beauce region South of Paris now houses a state-of-the-art breeding station which will replace the existing Semonville site. A versatile building complex at a cost of 5.2 million euros was build up on the three-hectare plot, with a greenhouse, which is currently still under construction. At present, the operation employs eight permanent staff members, supported by several seasonal workers.

"France has the largest wheat market in Western Europe, extensive areas of winter oilseed rape cultivation and various markets for our grasses. It is essential to have seed breeding operations at local level to offer varieties adapted to local conditions. We have invested in a new seed breeding station, as we see enourmous potential in this area", said Head of Breeding at DSV, Dr Dieter Stelling, who travelled to France with representatives from the Executive and Supervisory Boards to attend the opening ceremony.