What Agrotec does

Agrotec (Centre de Ressources Technologiques AGROTEC) is a French technological resource center founded in 1988 and operating as the dedicated technical arm of the Technopole Agropole in Nouvelle-Aquitaine. It serves agri-food companies — including startups, SMEs, and larger manufacturers — by providing shared access to specialized R&D infrastructure that would otherwise require significant capital outlay from each project carrier. Its core value proposition is to take agri-food products from initial concept through formulation, prototyping, pilot production, and consumer validation without requiring clients to invest in their own equipment.

The company's technology stack consists of six integrated service modules delivered through physical platforms: raw material analysis and valorization (physico-chemical laboratory), R&D (including a transversal research department partnering with the University of Bordeaux on thermal-process optimization), pilot production (multiple pilot units for samples and pre-series), modular training rooms, health-safety/quality/RSE compliance services, and sensory analysis (a 36-booth consumer testing laboratory). Agrotec holds three material certifications: the Centre de Ressources Technologiques designation from the French Ministry, Qualiopi for training quality, and Crédit Impôt Recherche eligibility, which together confer credible R&D service status and tax-incentive advantages to client companies.

Commercially, Agrotec operates on a professional-services model, delivering bespoke project-based engagements under undisclosed pricing, with a sales-led go-to-market conducted through direct enterprise engagement. Its marketing is limited to its website (hosted within the Agropole domain) and participation in industry events such as Concours National Agropole and Startup Weekend. There is no disclosed revenue, no external funding, and no evidence of M&A activity; ownership appears associative rather than venture- or private-equity-backed, with Agrotec functioning as the technological tool of the Agropole technopole.

Name

Agrotec

Legal name

Centre de Ressources Technologiques AGROTEC

Website

https://agrotec-france.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Agrotec is a French technological resource center (founded 1988, Agropole, Nouvelle-Aquitaine) that provides agri-food companies with shared pilot production, R&D, physico-chemical and sensory analysis, training, and compliance services from concept to consumer validation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agri-food R&D and Pilot Production Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Crop Production (11511), Support Activities for Crop Production (1151)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Carbon, Sustainability & Farm Certification Support (Agro-Environmental Advisory) (AFACABAL)

Keywords

• Food technology services
• Product development
• Sensory analysis
• Pilot production
• Food safety compliance

Headquarters

HQ city

Agen

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Technological Support Services: Technical support services for agri-food product development, including analysis, R&D, pilot production, training, and sensory analysis services. Revenue generated through service fees for companies accessing the technological platform.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Agrotec provides technological support services to agri-food companies across the product development lifecycle. Services include raw material analysis and valorization, R&D, pilot production of samples and pre-series, sensory analysis for consumer validation, professional training, and food safety/quality/RSE compliance support. Engagement is project-based, giving clients access to specialized equipment, laboratories, and technical expertise without capital investment in their own facilities.

Product overview

Agrotec (Centre de Ressources Technologiques) is a technological resource center operating since 1988 as a technical tool of the Agropole Technopole. It provides a unified platform of integrated services spanning the entire agri-food product development cycle—from raw material analysis and R&D through pilot production, sensory testing, training, and quality/RSE compliance—to consumer validation. The core offering consists of six interconnected service modules: Analyse et Valorisation des Matières Premières, Recherche et Développement, Production Pilote, Formation, Sécurité Sanitaire - Qualité - RSE, and Analyses Sensorielles. These services are delivered through equipped technological platforms, pilot production facilities, physico-chemical analysis laboratories, a 36-booth sensory analysis laboratory, and modular training rooms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Analyse et Valorisation des Matières Premières (Raw Material Analysis and Valorization)

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• University of BordeauxcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgrotec's research department operates transversally in partnership with the University of Bordeaux. The collaboration focuses on 'optimization of thermal processes under energy and nutritional constraints.' This research complements Agrotec's competencies in plant co-product valorization and energy optimization of processes.

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• ACTALIA: French food technology institute providing dairy and food R&D, sensory analysis, training, and pilot facilities; shares the French CRT-style technology center model with Agrotec.
• IFV (Institut Français de la Vigne et du Vin): French technical institute delivering applied research, pilot trials, and sensory analysis for the wine sector; comparable CRT-style resource center with similar technology-transfer mandate.
• CTCPA: Centre Technique de la Conservation des Produits Agricoles, a French technical center offering food product R&D, pilot production, and microbiological/physico-chemical analysis services to agri-food companies — directly comparable CRT-model peer to Agrotec.

Broad incumbents

• Silliker (Mérieux NutriSciences): Brand within Mérieux NutriSciences historically focused on food product testing and sensory panels, directly mirroring Agrotec's analytical and consumer validation offerings.
• Wageningen Food & Biobased Research: Dutch applied research institute providing food formulation, pilot processing, and consumer/sensory research for industry; closest large European technology-center counterpart to Agrotec.
• Mérieux NutriSciences: International food safety, quality, and sensory evaluation services group; overlaps Agrotec's safety/quality/sensory modules but operates as a global incumbent rather than a regional CRT.
• Bureau Veritas Food Services: Major TIC firm offering food testing, certification, and quality/safety advisory services; competes for Agrotec's RSE and food safety compliance work at a global scale.
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: Applied research organization with a dedicated food and biotech research division offering pilot facilities, R&D, and sensory work; a European public-sector analog to Agrotec but operating at much larger scale.
• Eurofins Food Testing: Global commercial food testing and sensory research services provider that competes for the same physico-chemical and analytical work Agrotec performs, but at much larger scale and broader geographic footprint.

Regional players

• Agri Sud-Ouest Innovation: French competitiveness cluster serving agri-food and agro-industry innovation in southwest France; provides complementary incubation, networking, and project funding adjacent to Agrotec's service scope.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AgrotecAgen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/agrotec-crt

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Agrotec