Semences de France
Semences de France is a French seed company and wholly-owned subsidiary of the InVivo cooperative group, developing and selling certified seeds across cereals, oilseeds, maize, sorghum, forage, cover crops, organic, and turf categories to French and Italian farmers via agricultural cooperatives.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersLa Chapelle-d'Armentières, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Semences de France does
Semences de France is a French seed company headquartered in La Chapelle-d'Armentières (62, Rue Léon Beauchamp) and operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of InVivo, one of France's largest agricultural cooperative groups. Founded in 1997, the company develops and commercializes certified seeds across a comprehensive portfolio covering straw cereals (wheat, barley, durum wheat, rye, triticale, oats, hybrid barley), oilseeds (rapeseed, sunflower, flax, soybean), maize segmented by maturity, sorghum (grain and forage), forage crops (alfalfa, multiple clover types, grasses, meadow mixes of varying duration), cover crops, organic seeds, methanization-oriented crops, and professional turf seeds marketed under the Carneau brand. The company was ranked first in seed sales on French territory for four consecutive years as of 2016, with a projected €150 million in revenue for fiscal year 2015-2016.
The product platform combines proprietary seed treatments (SemBOOST for maize combining protection with a germination activator, Rhizactiv for alfalfa root development and nitrogen fixation, Nutriplus Stim biostimulant for cereals, Covermix companion-plant blend for rapeseed) and variety innovations including V2MAX dual-variety maize mixtures, the CAPP and SF+ variety selection programs, Black Collection rapeseed, and a dedicated inoculant range for soybean and alfalfa. A suite of decision support tools (Meteoscope for local weather via connected probes, Prairiescope for forage selection, Visualiz for variety choice, Semscope for seed information, Defiscope for cost comparison between farm-saved and certified seed) extends the offering to farmer customers.
The business operates on a B2B, sales-led distribution model, moving seeds primarily through the InVivo cooperative network and other agricultural distributors across France. International reach was added through the October 2016 acquisition of Italian seed company Novasem (Genola-based) after more than 20 years of prior collaboration, and the 2015 acquisition of the Carneau professional turf brand. Revenue is generated through one-time certified seed sales across multiple crop categories, with pricing not publicly disclosed and negotiated through cooperatives based on variety, quantity, and region.
Semences de France firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Semences de France
- Legal name
- Semences de France
- Website
- https://semencesdefrance.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Semences de France is a French seed company and wholly-owned subsidiary of the InVivo cooperative group, developing and selling certified seeds across cereals, oilseeds, maize, sorghum, forage, cover crops, organic, and turf categories to French and Italian farmers via agricultural cooperatives.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Semences de France industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Agricultural Seeds
- SIC
- Agricultural Services (700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Seed Production & Multiplication (Contract Growing, Foundation/Certified Seed) (AFABAFAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Hybrid Seed Production (AFAGAIAD), Seed Distribution & Wholesale (Channel Sales) (AFAGAIAM)
Keywords
Where Semences de France is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- La Chapelle-d'Armentières
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Semences de France business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Certified Seed Sales: Production and sale of certified seeds across multiple crop categories including cereals (wheat, barley, durum wheat, rye, triticale), maize, rapeseed, sunflower, sorghum, forage crops, cover crops, and organic seeds. Revenue generated through direct sales to cooperatives and agricultural distributors.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Semences de France product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Semences de France is a French seed company that develops, multiplies, and commercializes certified seed varieties across cereals, maize, oilseeds, sorghum, forage crops, cover crops, organic seeds, and professional turf (Carneau). The company operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the InVivo agricultural cooperative group, distributing its varieties primarily through France's agricultural cooperative network and, internationally, through its Italian subsidiary Novasem.
Product overview
Semences de France is France's leading seed company (semencier), operating as a subsidiary of the InVivo cooperative group. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio organized by crop type: straw cereals (wheat, barley, rye, triticale, oats), oilseeds (rapeseed, sunflower, soybean, flax), corn (with maturity-based segmentation), sorghum, and forage crops. The portfolio extends through cover crops, organic seeds, turf/lawn seeds (via Carneau brand), and methanization-focused crops. The product line is supported by seed treatment services (SemBOOST, Nutriplus Stim), inoculant products for soybean and alfalfa, and innovative variety programs including V2 Max mixed corn varieties, Black Collection rapeseed, and CAPP wheat selection. Decision support tools (Météoscope, Prairiescope, Visualiz, Semscope, Défiscope) complement the product offering for farmer customers. The company has expanded internationally through acquisition of Italian seed company Novasem in 2016.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Carneau: Professional lawn seed brand acquired by Semences de France, specializing in turf grass seeds and related products for professional landscaping.
Products and services
- Straw Cereal Seeds (Céréales à paille)
- Oilseed Seeds (Oléagineux)
- Maize Seeds (Maïs)
- Sorghum Seeds (Sorgho)
- Forage Crop Seeds (Fourragères)
- Cover Crop Seeds (Couverts Végétaux)
- Organic Seeds (Semences Bio)
- Methanization Seeds (Méthanisation)
- Carneau Professional Lawn Seeds (Gazons)
- Seed Treatment Services (Traitement de semences)
- Decision Support Tools (Outils d'Aide à la Décision - OAD)
- Inoculant Range (Gamme Inoculants)
Quantifiable outcome
- Forage maize yield secured through V2MAX variety mixtures
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Semences de France
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Semences de France technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Semences de France partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- NovasemcoreSemences de France acquired 100% of Novasem, an Italian seed company based in Genola, in October 2016. The companies had collaborated for over 20 years in the Italian cereal seed sector. The acquisition strengthens Semences de France's international presence and enables development of cereal seed sales in Italy while diversifying into new species.
- ICL Specialty FertilizersminorPartnership agreement between ICL Specialty Fertilizers and Semences de France (subsidiary of InVivo) to strengthen growth in the professional lawn seed market in France and Europe under the Carneau brand. Agreement enables cross-promotion and distribution synergies.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Semences de France competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- KWS SAAT: German-headquartered global seed company with strong maize, sugar beet, and cereal portfolios and a deep European presence. Directly competes with Semences de France in hybrid maize and cereal seeds across France and broader Europe.
- RAGT Semences: French seed company specializing in cereals, maize, sorghum, forages, and cover crops, headquartered in southern France. Closely comparable in product breadth (cereals, forages, cover crops) and French-market distribution model to Semences de France.
- Caussade Semences Group: French cooperative seed company focused on cereals, maize, oilseeds, and protein crops, distributed via French cooperatives. Closely comparable mid-sized French seed player competing in overlapping categories with Semences de France.
- Florimond Desprez: Independent French family-owned breeder and seed producer focused on cereals, sugar beet, and potatoes. Comparable as a domestically rooted French seed competitor with similar field crop and variety development orientation.
- DLF Seeds: Danish-headquartered global leader in forage and turf grass seeds, with significant European market share. Comparable to Semences de France's forage (alfalfa, clovers, grasses) and Carneau turf grass businesses.
- Advanta Seeds: Global seed company (UPL group) with sunflower, sorghum, maize, and forage seed portfolios. Direct peer in sorghum and sunflower, the crops where Semences de France competes beyond its core cereals.
- Limagrain: France's largest farmer-owned seed cooperative, with deep cereal, maize, and vegetable seed portfolios through Vilmorin-Mikado. Direct competitor to Semences de France in French field seeds, serving farmers through similar cooperative distribution channels and offering competing hybrid varieties.
Broad incumbents
- Corteva Agriscience: Global seed and crop protection major with Pioneer and Brevant brands, dominant in maize and oilseed hybrids. Competes with Semences de France across European maize and oilseed seed markets with biotech-enabled traits.
- Bayer Crop Science (formerly Monsanto): Global seed and crop protection giant with DEKALB maize and oilseed portfolios. Competes broadly with Semences de France in European hybrid maize and oilseeds, with deeper biotech/trait R&D capabilities.
- Syngenta Seeds: Global seed and crop protection major (owned by ChemChina/Sinochem) with broad cereals, maize, oilseeds, and vegetable seed portfolios. Operates across France and Europe as a broad incumbent competing with Semences de France in hybrid maize, cereals, and sunflower.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Semences de France social profiles
Digital presenceSemences de France financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Semences de France leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Semences de France subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Semences de France funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Semences de France M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Semences de France
What does Semences de France do?
Semences de France is a French seed company that develops, multiplies, and commercializes certified seed varieties across cereals, maize, oilseeds, sorghum, forage crops, cover crops, organic seeds, and professional turf (Carneau). The company operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the InVivo agricultural cooperative group, distributing its varieties primarily through France's agricultural cooperative network and, internationally, through its Italian subsidiary Novasem.
Is Semences de France a public or private company?
Semences de France is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Semences de France founded?
Semences de France was founded in 1997. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Semences de France based?
Semences de France is headquartered in La Chapelle-d'Armentières, France, in the Europe region.
How does Semences de France make money?
One revenue line is on record: certified Seed Sales.
Who are Semences de France's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are KWS SAAT, RAGT Semences, Caussade Semences Group, Florimond Desprez, DLF Seeds, Advanta Seeds and Limagrain. Broad incumbents are Corteva Agriscience, Bayer Crop Science (formerly Monsanto) and Syngenta Seeds.
Does Semences de France have an API?
No public API is recorded for Semences de France.
What industry is Semences de France in?
Semences de France's product category is Agricultural Seeds. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFABAFAK, Seed Production & Multiplication (Contract Growing, Foundation/Certified Seed), with a secondary code of AFAGAIAD, Hybrid Seed Production. Its SIC code is 700.