CRBA - Centre de Ressources de Botanique Appliquée

What CRBA - Centre de Ressources de Botanique Appliquée does

CRBA - Centre de Ressources de Botanique Appliquée is a French non-profit research association (loi 1901) founded in January 2008 by Stéphane Crozat (ethnobotanist and scientific director) and Sabrina Novak (cooperations and valorizations), headquartered at Domaine Melchior Philibert in Charly, France, near Lyon. The organization operates as an interdisciplinary applied botany laboratory focused on climate adaptation for agriculture, horticulture, and landscape design. Its core infrastructure comprises a seed conservatory holding approximately 4,000 varieties of vegetables, cereals, and aromatics (including 400 tomato varieties, 160 bean varieties, 100 bread wheat varieties, and 108 tree varieties), alongside three experimental sites: Station Vavilov (1 hectare, inaugurated 2021 in partnership with the Vavilov Institute of Saint-Petersburg and unique as the only such station outside Russia), Ferme Melchior (3.5 hectares), and Ferme Semencière (1.5 hectares plus 2.2 hectares added in 2023). Genetic resources are certified organic (AB) and treated as a common good to be freely distributed.

Name

CRBA - Centre de Ressources de Botanique Appliquée

Legal name

Centre de Ressources de Botanique Appliquée

Website

https://crba.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CRBA is a French non-profit research organization that conserves approximately 4,000 agricultural varieties in seed banks and experimental farms, serving farmers, gardeners, municipalities, and heritage clients through participatory research and free seed distribution in the Lyon region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Biodiversity and Plant Genetic Resource Conservation

NAICS

Other Vegetable (except Potato) and Melon Farming (111219), Greenhouse, Nursery, and Floriculture Production (1114), Nursery and Floriculture Production (11142)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Agricultural Production-Crops (100), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Soil Health & Regenerative Agronomy Consulting (AFACABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Seed Collection, Processing & Storage (Provenance/Genetics) (AFAMACAB), Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (Fair Trade, Food Access, Regenerative) (BPAGALAD), Agroforestry & Perennial Cropping Systems (EUABABAD)

Keywords

• Seed conservation
• Agronomic experimentation
• Ethnobotanical research
• Historical garden restoration
• Participatory plant breeding

Headquarters

HQ city

Charly

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Research Projects and Consulting Services: CRBA conducts studies, provides advice, and supports public and private actors in preserving or adapting their environments to climate challenges. Revenue derives from project fees for garden studies, historical research, and territory diagnostics.
2. Public and Institutional Funding: As a loi 1901 association, CRBA receives support from institutional partners including Métropole de Lyon, DRAC, Région AURA, and research grants. Funding also comes from foundations such as Fondation P&V Mercan.
3. Seed Distribution and Adoption Programs: Seeds are distributed freely to farmers and gardeners. The 'Adoptez une semence' program offers seed adoption in exchange for minimal return contributions, creating community engagement.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CRBA is an interdisciplinary applied botany laboratory that conserves and disseminates plant genetic heritage (~4,000 varieties of vegetables, cereals, and aromatics), runs agronomic experimentation to identify climate-resilient and organic-farming-compatible varieties, and delivers project-based studies and consulting on historical garden restoration, ethnobotany, archaeology, and territorial adaptation. Its operations are anchored in three production facilities — Station Vavilov (1 ha), Ferme Melchior (3.5 ha), and Ferme Semencière (1.5 ha) — and supported by participatory research programs such as "Cultiver l'avenir" and the "Adoptez une semence" community seed-adoption scheme.

Product overview

CRBA - Centre de Ressources de Botanique Appliquée operates as an interdisciplinary research center and applied botany laboratory offering a unified ecosystem of products and services centered on agricultural biodiversity and climate adaptation. The core portfolio comprises: the Conservatoire (seed conservatory with ~4000 varieties), Station Vavilov (agricultural experimentation station), Ferme Melchior (experimental farm), and Ferme Semencière (seed production farm), all focused on testing and distributing plant varieties adapted to climate change without chemical inputs. Supporting services include Jardins et Territoires (historical garden restoration and landscape studies), Arts et Sciences (multidisciplinary events and education), and the agronomy division's research projects. The 'Cultiver l'avenir' participatory research program coordinates 4 species testing across 150 varieties each. Seeds are distributed free through the 'Adoptez une semence' community program. All genetic resources are certified organic (AB) and treated as a common good.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Conservatoire (Seed Conservatory) A participative conservatory preserving approximately 4,000 varieties of vegetables, cereals, and aromatics (including 400 tomato varieties, 160 bean varieties, 100 soft wheat varieties, and 108 fruit tree varieties). Resources are certified organic (AB) and treated as a common good for free distribution to farmers, gardeners, and the public.
• Station Vavilov Agricultural experimentation station spanning 1 hectare, operated in partnership with the Vavilov Institute of Saint Petersburg. Tests plant varieties for climate adaptation, nutritional qualities, and ability to be cultivated without chemical inputs, drawing on 120 years of Vavilov Institute methodology.
• Ferme Melchior Experimental farm serving as a laboratory of European biodiversity adapted to climate change. Conducts applied research in a renovated historical garden integrating agroforestry and biological pest control methods, without chemical inputs.
• Ferme Semencière Seed production farm spanning 1.5 hectares (with an additional 2.2 hectares acquired in 2023), serving as a backup to Ferme Melchior. Produces quality organic seeds for free distribution to market gardeners, farmers, and nurseries.
• Cultiver l'avenir (Cultivating the Future) 2025/26/27 A 100% participatory 3-year research program (2025-2027) testing 4 species selected by local farmers — zucchini, leeks, radishes, and spinach — with 150 varieties per species evaluated for robustness, organoleptic qualities, and genetic diversity. Involves 150 farmers in the Lyon region.
• Jardins et Territoires (Gardens and Territories) Studies and consulting services for historical garden restoration, ethnobotanical studies, archaeological excavations, landscape design, and territory rehabilitation. Includes historical garden restoration studies, ethnobotanical assessments, archaeological investigations, vegetation palette creation, and contemporary garden design for municipalities, heritage organizations, and private property owners.
• Arts et Sciences (Arts and Sciences) A multidisciplinary space connecting arts, sciences, and techniques through concrete projects involving researchers, producers, cooks, artists, schools, and citizens. Organizes events, exhibitions, performances, seminars, publications, and educational activities bridging scientific and artistic cultures.
• Pôle Agronomie Research Projects Agricultural research including participatory selection of cereals, vegetables, and legumes; testing new cultural practices (basalt soil incorporation, companion planting); discovery and characterization of promising species (Amaranth, Sorghum, Kernza); and vegetable protein research through theses and European projects such as DIVINFOOD.
• Adoptez une semence (Adopt a Seed) Program Seed adoption program allowing individuals in metropolitan France to adopt seeds for cultivation. Provides 4 free samples (excluding tubers and bulbs) in exchange for a commitment to cultivate 9-25 square meters, photograph the growth cycle, and return a minimum quantity of seeds. Recipients send 3 stamps for shipping.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,000+ varieties of vegetables, cereals, and aromatics in active conservation
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Université agraire d'Erevan (Arménie)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Local partner for the 2026 ethnobotanical expedition to Armenia. Will collaborate on collecting robust plant varieties for acclimatization in the Lyon region.
• ISARAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Agricultural research institute co-directing the CIFRE thesis on protein-rich legume varieties. Collaborates on Kernza research and participates in participatory breeding programs. Joint research on new crop species including amaranth and sorghum.
• Métropole de LyoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Major institutional partner supporting CRBA operations, research, and the seed farm initiative. Co-funds the Ferme semencière project and doctoral research. Provides land and resources for agricultural experimentation serving the Lyon metropolitan region's food resilience.
• DIVINFOOD ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022European Horizon 2020 project (2022-2027) involving 26 partners across 7 countries. CRBA participates in living labs conducting participatory research on underutilized seed species. Project aims to develop food chains valorizing agrobiodiversity for sustainable food systems.
• Institut Vavilov de Saint-PétersbourgcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partnership with the world's oldest seed bank (founded 1894) to establish the unique Station Vavilov in Lyon—the only Vavilov station outside Russia. Inaugurated in 2021 with Deputy Director Aleksey Zavarzin. Collaborates on variety exchange, research methodology, and agronomic experimentation. The Institute holds approximately 325,000 species and varieties, being the fourth largest seed bank globally.
• CNRScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-directs doctoral thesis on legume varieties through the IMP laboratory (CNRS, Université Lyon 1). Contributes scientific expertise to interdisciplinary plant breeding research.
• Restos du cœurminorOthersCharitable partner receiving donations of surplus organic produce from CRBA farms. In 2025, donated freshly harvested produce to support people in difficulty.
• La Fabuleuse Cantine LyonminorOthersSolidarity cantine receiving donations and symbolic sales of surplus CRBA organic produce.
• Fondation cuisine durable By Olivier GinoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-designed the 'Collections végétales' project (2022-2023) involving approximately 30 national and international chefs in sensory selection of vegetables. Created the Chef's Garden at Ferme Melchior in 2023.
• ArthropologiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the 'Ça pousse' (2019-2023) educational project bringing agricultural and environmental awareness to school children.
• ARDEARminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgricultural development association participating in participatory research on ancient wheat varieties ('blés vêtus') launched in 2019.
• Groupama Auvergne-Rhône-AlpesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned rooftop kitchen garden project at Lyon headquarters combining solidarity and scientific study in urban environment.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Seed Savers Exchange: US-based non-profit dedicated to preserving and distributing heirloom seeds through a member-supported exchange. Comparable in mission and participatory seed stewardship model, with a larger network scale and similar focus on heritage variety conservation.
• Kokopelli: French non-profit association distributing organic and heritage seeds to gardeners and farmers across France. Closely comparable in non-profit seed distribution model, focus on heritage varieties, and target audience of amateur gardeners and small farmers.
• Heritage Seed Library (Garden Organic): UK-based organic gardening charity running a heritage seed library and conservation program. Comparable as a UK non-profit conserving rare and heritage vegetable varieties through membership-based seed distribution.
• ProSpecieRara: Swiss non-profit foundation dedicated to preserving the genetic diversity of plants and animals since 1982. Closely comparable as a European heritage breed/variety conservation non-profit with conservation programs, variety stewardship, and educational outreach.
• Réseau Semences Paysannes: French national network coordinating farmers and organizations for the collective management of cultivated biodiversity, including participatory plant breeding. Directly comparable to CRBA in mission and France-based, non-profit seed stewardship model.

Broad incumbents

• INRAE: France's national research institute for agriculture, food, and environment. Comparable as a French agronomic research institution with major seed bank and genetic resources infrastructure, but operating at much greater scale and with public-mission mandate.
• Svalbard Global Seed Vault: Norway-based international gene bank storing duplicate samples of seed varieties from genebanks worldwide. Comparable mission of genetic resource preservation but at global, multilateral scale rather than participatory regional focus.

Others

• Vavilov Institute (VIR): Russian federal research institution holding ~325,000 plant varieties — the world's fourth-largest seed bank. Listed as a peer because CRBA's Station Vavilov is built on a direct partnership with this institution, sharing methodology and germplasm exchange.
• Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI): International membership organization coordinating plant conservation across botanical gardens globally. Comparable as a non-profit enabling conservation of plant genetic resources, with adjacent — rather than directly overlapping — mission scope.

Emerging players

• AgroBio Périgord: French organic farming association active in organic seed production and participatory breeding in the Dordogne region. Comparable as a regional French organic/biodiversity non-profit with farmer-engaged seed activities; smaller scale than CRBA but adjacent niche.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ferme.melchior.7
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/crba-centre-de-ressources-de-botanique-appliqu%C3%A9e
• Instagraminstagram.com/crba_botanique_appliquee

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles25 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about CRBA - Centre de Ressources de Botanique Appliquée