SEMAE

What SEMAE does

SEMAE (formerly GNIS) is the French interprofessional organization for seeds and plants, established in 1962 under decree n°62-585 and reorganized/rebranded in January 2021 to reflect its scope across all seed categories and uses. Headquartered in Paris (44 rue du Louvre) with an operations and logistics center in Beaucouzé, SEMAE is a private-law entity with "sui generis" legal status — not a commercial company but a sector-coordination body representing 61 federations and professional associations across the French seed value chain: 67 plant breeding companies, 255 seed production companies, 16,500 contract seed growers (multiplicateurs), 390,000+ end-user farmers, and 17 million home gardeners.

SEMAE's core technology and service platform centers on four operating lines. (1) SOC-France (Service Officiel de Contrôle et Certification), the official delegated public service that executes seed field inspections, lot controls, plant health verification, and certification for both French and EU/OECD seed schemes. (2) Variety databases integrating the French national catalogue, the European catalogue (45,500+ varieties), CPVO, UPOV, and OECD databases. (3) Technical regulations homologated by the French Ministry of Agriculture, covering cereals, maize, beets, oilseeds, flax/hemp, potatoes, forages, and vegetables. (4) SEMAE FORMATION, a wholly-owned training subsidiary operating in 40+ countries with 120+ training themes, 180+ courses, and 1,300+ trainees annually. Adjacent products include a publications shop, business directory, Semae Traduction translation services, weekly news (Semences Webdo), MOOCs, and a podcast series.

The business model is funded through interprofessional contributions from member federations, fees from SOC certification and control services, training fees, publication sales, and event-related revenue. With 51-100 direct employees, SEMAE is structurally a small organization with outsized sectoral reach: the French seed industry it represents generates €3.9 billion in turnover, €2.3 billion in exports, a €1.3 billion trade surplus, and reaches 150 countries — making France the world's leading exporter of agricultural seeds. Distribution is direct/B2B and interprofessional, delivered through the Paris HQ, the Beaucouzé logistics center, a network of SOC field operations, and an international cooperation footprint covering 60 partner countries. SEMAE does not appear to operate a software product, API, or commercial SaaS — its outputs are regulatory services, training, information products, and sector representation.

Name

SEMAE

Legal name

SEMAE, l'interprofession des semences et plants

Website

https://semae.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

SEMAE is the French interprofessional organization for seeds and plants, coordinating 61 federations representing 16,500 seed growers, 67 breeders, and 255 production companies. It delivers official seed certification (SOC), professional training, and variety databases, and supports France's position as the world's leading agricultural seed exporter (€1.3B trade surplus).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Seed Certification Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Crop Production (11511), Farm Management Services (115116), Postharvest Crop Activities (except Cotton Ginning) (115114)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Services-Management Services (8741), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Seed Quality Testing & Certification Services (AFAGAIAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Seed Quality Testing & Certification Support (Germination, Purity, Vigor) (AFAOADAK), Supplier Approval, Verification & Food Safety Risk Management (GFSI-aligned) (AFALADAH)

Keywords

• Seed certification
• Plant variety registration
• Agricultural training
• Seed industry representation
• Seed export services

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Interprofessional Representation and Services: SEMAE generates revenue through membership contributions from its 61 federations and professional associations, fees for certification and control services (SOC), publication sales, training programs (SEMAE FORMATION), and event organization. The organization operates as a non-profit interprofessional body.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

SEMAE is the French interprofessional organization for seeds and plants, coordinating 61 federations across field crops, forage, vegetables/flowers, and vines. Its core services include official seed certification and quality control (SOC France), maintenance of the national plant variety database, professional training through its SEMAE Formation subsidiary, industry representation before French and EU authorities, and translation services for seed-related documentation.

Product overview

SEMAE is an interprofessional organization (not a software product company) representing the French seed and plant sector. The organization provides a unified platform of services including: official seed certification through SOC France, professional training via SEMAE FORMATION, access to variety databases (French and European catalogues with 45,500+ varieties), a publications shop, business directory, translation services, and weekly news updates. SEMAE serves as a coordination body for 61 federations and professional associations across multiple seed categories including cereals, maize, potatoes, vegetables, oilseeds, flax, and hemp. The organization also maintains technical regulations for seed production, control, and certification, and provides international cooperation services. While SEMAE operates websites and databases, it is not a software-as-a-service product with modules or integrations in the technology product sense.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SOC-France: Direction de la Qualité et du Contrôle Officiel - The official technical service responsible for seed and plant control and certification missions

Products and services

• SOC France (Service Officiel de Contrôle et Certification) Official French seed certification service covering varietal identity control, seed health verification, and quality assurance for seed lots placed on the market. Used by seed companies, multipliers, and distributors operating in France.
• SEMAE Formation Professional training subsidiary of SEMAE providing seed sector training delivered in more than 40 countries. Targeted at seed industry professionals, regulators, and international partner organizations.
• National Plant Variety Database (Catalogue Officiel) Online reference database covering 45,500 plant varieties registered in France. Used by breeders, farmers, distributors, researchers, and international partners to identify and source registered varieties.
• Semences Webdo Weekly news bulletin published by SEMAE covering developments in the French seed sector, targeted at seed industry professionals and stakeholders.
• Semae Traduction Specialized translation service for seed sector documentation, supporting international trade and regulatory submissions. Targeted at seed companies and international partners requiring certified translations of technical and regulatory materials.
• SEMAE Business Directory (Annuaire) Online business directory listing seed sector companies active in France. Used by buyers, suppliers, and international partners to identify seed industry counterparties.
• SEMAE Publications Catalog of seed sector reference materials including books, guides, and technical documents on seed production, certification, and regulation. Targeted at seed professionals, students, and researchers.

Quantifiable outcome

• France produces 600+ new plant varieties per year
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Japan - Ministry of Agriculture Delegation VisitminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 January 2019SEMAE hosted a Japanese delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food for three days to study the global seed industry and French seed sector policy. Included meetings with INRAE, SICASOV, INOV, and a French seed company.
• ASEAN - UPOV Plant Breeders' Rights SeminarminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 August 2018SEMAE participated in a seminar organized by the Philippines Department of Agriculture with Japan Ministry support and UPOV, focusing on plant variety protection in ASEAN countries. SEMAE is a member of the East Asia Plant Variety Protection Forum.
• Iran - Institutional Cooperation AgreementcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 October 2017Bilateral cooperation agreement signed with Iran to strengthen the Iranian seed sector through development of a regulatory framework favorable to variety diffusion and agricultural objectives facing water resources and climate change. Signed by Pierre Pagès (Vice-President SEMAE) and Alireza Mohajer (Advisor to Iranian Minister).
• 60 Partner Countries (Bilateral/Multilateral)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEMAE has established collaborations with 60 countries across 5 continents through bilateral and multilateral partnerships. These include partnerships with regional seed associations (APSA in Asia, AFSTA in Africa), regional economic organizations (ECOWAS, COMESA, SADC, ASEAN), and regional IP organizations (OAPI, ARIPO). The organization provides guidance on developing viable seed sectors respecting international standards.
• OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development)coreTechnology or IntegrationSEMAE's SOC is the national designated authority responsible for ensuring seed compliance with OECD certification standards. Head of SOC attends OECD's two annual meetings on seed schemes improvement.
• ISTA (International Seed Testing Association)coreTechnology or IntegrationSEMAE collaborates with ISTA for standardizing seed testing methods. SOC uses ISTA methods for seed sampling in certification processes.
• UPOV (International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants)coreTechnology or IntegrationSEMAE supports nationally implementing UPOV regulations related to plant variety rights. France is a member of UPOV with 75 member countries.
• GEVES (Variety and Seed Study and Control French Group)coreTechnology or IntegrationGEVES conducts agronomical, technical and environmental tests for variety registration in the French catalogue. Collaborates with CTPS (French Technical Plant Breeding Committee).
• SICASOV (Société Civile d'Intérêt des Obtenteurs de Semences et Plants)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSICASOV manages intellectual property rights for plant varieties in France. Mr Lecrivain from SICASOV presented at the Japanese delegation visit.
• INOV (Institut National de la Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMrs Meresse from INOV presented to the Japanese delegation on National Office for Plant Breeder's Rights. INRAE and its predecessor INRA conduct public research on plant breeding innovation.
• INAO (Institut National de l'Origine et de la Qualité)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with INAO and its organic seeds commission to manage the organic seed database helping organic farmers procure seeds. Since 2004, SEMAE has managed a database on organic seed availability.
• CPVO (Community Plant Variety Office)coreTechnology or IntegrationCPVO manages the EU system for protecting plant variety rights across member states. SEMAE provides access to CPVO variety finder database with 49,000 varieties.
• SEMAE FORMATION International ClientsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSEMAE's training subsidiary serves international clients from over 40 countries annually. More than 150 clients, 180+ courses, and 1,300+ people trained per year.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Euroseeds: European seed trade association representing the broader European seed industry at EU level. Highly comparable as a sector-wide representative body, though operating at the European rather than national/interprofessional level and without SEMAE's official certification mandate (SOC).
• International Seed Federation (ISF): Global seed industry association. Comparable as a coordinating body for seed trade, breeding, and policy advocacy, but global in scope with no national certification authority, contrasting with SEMAE's state-delegated official control role.
• American Seed Trade Association (ASTA): US national seed trade association. Broadly comparable as a national seed trade body, though operating in a fundamentally different regulatory environment (no equivalent state-delegated certification monopoly like SOC).

Direct peers

• Bundesverband Deutscher Pflanzenzüchter (BDP): German plant breeders' association. The closest direct peer — a national-level trade body for seed/plant breeders with a comparable coordinating and policy role for the German seed sector, SEMAE's main European competitor.
• Plantum NL: Dutch association for the plant breeding and propagation sector. Direct peer as another national interprofessional-style body representing Dutch breeders, multipliers, and propagators, competing with SEMAE in European seed trade coordination.
• ANOVE (Asociación Nacional de Obtentores Vegetales): Spanish national association of plant breeders. Direct peer representing Spanish breeders and seed producers; mirrors SEMAE's role for the Spanish sector and is a fellow member of European seed policy discussions.
• Assosementi: Italian seed association representing the Italian seed industry. Direct peer with similar interprofessional representation, regulatory engagement, and technical coordination role for Italy's seed value chain.

Others

• GEVES (Groupe d'Étude et de contrôle des Variétés et des Semences): French group for variety and seed testing. Closely comparable technical peer — collaborates with SEMAE/CTPS on French catalogue variety registration and DUS/VCU trials. An ecosystem partner and partial functional parallel to SOC's testing activities.
• SICASOV: French society managing plant variety intellectual property rights for breeders. Closely comparable as a French seed-sector infrastructure organization and core SEMAE partner; complementary rather than competitive, handling IP rights while SEMAE handles certification and coordination.

Regional players

• AFSTA (African Seed Trade Association): Continental African seed trade association. Thematic peer — SEMAE actively partners with AFSTA in capacity-building programs; comparable function but operating in a different geography with distinct membership and regulatory frameworks.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/semae_officiel
• Facebookfacebook.com/cultivonslabiodiversite
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/semae-officiel

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SEMAE