Panam France

What Panam France does

Panam France is an independent, family-owned French seed company headquartered in Villemur-sur-Tarn (Haute-Garonne), operating as the core entity of the Groupe Poujaud. Founded in 1986 with the company entity formalized in 1998, Panam France breeds, produces, and commercializes conventional seeds across maize, sunflower, cover crops (notably diploid oat Luxurial since 2006), camelina (protected varieties Camares and Melina), and emerging crops including chia (Oruro, first chia variety adapted to European latitudes since 2017), high-protein soybean, anthocyanin maize, amaranth, and textile hemp. The company maintains proprietary genetics across more than 200 varieties registered in 15 national catalogues, with R&D spending at 15% of revenue and 1,500 hectares of seed production plus 10,000+ tonnes of insecticide-free NOX modified-atmosphere storage. Its product portfolio centers on three flagship innovations: RH and RH+ high-oil maize (7-12% oil content, exclusive to Panam in Europe), RH Optimum genetic associations combining RH, dent, and antioxidant-rich maize for dairy silage (delivering up to +€500/ha benefit), and the Luxurial cover crop range.

The company generates revenue through seed sales, applying a one-time license model, with 40% of revenue from France and 60% from international markets across 40+ countries on 5 continents. Go-to-market combines direct sales to French farmers (mid-market) with a distributor and licensing network internationally, offering territorial exclusivity, private label, and product licensing arrangements tailored to partner needs. Integrated supply chains Filière Chia de France and Filière Caméline de France, coordinated with AGROFÜN and backed by the Fondation de France, provide contracted production with pre-agreed pricing and free seed provision to farmers. Key customer segments include livestock and dairy farmers seeking high-energy feed self-sufficiency, conventional and organic crop farmers, and international distributors requiring differentiated varieties adapted to local conditions.

Panam France's core technology platform is conventional plant breeding and varietal selection adapted to European soils and climatic conditions. With 40 collaborators, two operational sites (Villemur-sur-Tarn headquarters and Saint-Martin-le-Beau northern research station), and partnerships across the Chia-Innov consortium (€2M ERDF co-funded, 2017-2019), the company operates as a vertically integrated seed breeder-producer-distributor in niche and emerging crop categories where larger seed majors are less active. The leadership team is family-led, with Frédéric Poujaud as President and specialized breeders driving each crop category.

Name

Panam France

Legal name

PANAM France SAS

Website

https://panam.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Panam France is an independent French family-owned seed company that breeds, produces, and markets proprietary conventional seed varieties — including exclusive high-oil RH maize, chia, camelina, and diploid oat — serving livestock farmers, crop farmers, and international distributors across 40+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Seeds

NAICS

Oilseed and Grain Farming (1111)

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYAFAGAIAF

Plant Breeding & Variety Development (Conventional)

Agriculture & Food Production/Crop Farming/Seed Production & Plant Breeding (Seed Multiplication, Hybrid Seed, Certified Seed)

SECONDARYAFAGAIAD

Hybrid Seed Production

Agriculture & Food Production/Crop Farming/Seed Production & Plant Breeding (Seed Multiplication, Hybrid Seed, Certified Seed)

SECONDARYAFAGAIAA

Foundation Seed Production

Agriculture & Food Production/Crop Farming/Seed Production & Plant Breeding (Seed Multiplication, Hybrid Seed, Certified Seed)

SECONDARYAFAGAGAN

Specialty Seed & Flavoring Crop Farming (Vanilla, Sesame, Mustard)

Agriculture & Food Production/Crop Farming/Specialty & Industrial Crop Farming (Tobacco, Hops, Spices, Medicinal/Aromatic Plants)

Keywords

• Agricultural seed production
• Plant breeding varieties
• Maize seed varieties
• Cover crop seeds
• Oilseed crop seeds

Headquarters

HQ city

Villemur-sur-tarn

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Seed Sales: Panam France generates revenue primarily through the sale of proprietary seed varieties including conventional maize, RH high-oil maize, sunflower, cover crops (Luxurial), camelina, chia, and other innovative plant species. The company sells directly to farmers and through distributor/channel partner networks domestically in France (40% of business) and internationally across 40+ countries (60% of business).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Panam France breeds, produces and markets proprietary seed varieties through conventional plant breeding and varietal selection. Its portfolio covers conventional maize (grain and silage), high-oil RH and RH+ maize, RH Optimum genetic associations for dairy, diploid oat cover crops (Luxurial), linoleic and oleic sunflower hybrids, camelina (omega-3 oilseed), and innovative species such as chia (Oruro), high-protein soybean, anthocyanin maize, amaranth, and textile hemp. Production is 100% French-origin with seed processing in Haute-Garonne.

Product overview

Panam France is an independent French seed company and the core entity of the Poujaud Group, active since 1986 in varietal research, production, and commercialization of seeds in over 40 countries. The company offers a complete portfolio of seed products organized into distinct ranges: (1) Conventional Maize covering grain and silage varieties across FAO maturity groups 230-650; (2) RH & RH+ High-Oil Maize—an exclusive innovation with 7% oil (RH) and 10-12% oil (RH+) content; (3) RH Optimum Genetic Associations combining RH, dent, and antioxidant-rich maize for dairy farming; (4) Cover Crops featuring pioneering European diploid oat varieties including Luxurial and blend products; (5) Sunflower hybrids in linoleic and oleic types with herbicide tolerances; (6) Camelina oilseed with protected varieties Camares and Melina; and (7) Other Plant Innovations including Chia Oruro, high-protein soybean Newport, anthocyanin maize, amaranth, and textile hemp. All varieties are selected and produced in France, with 15% of revenue invested in R&D, serving both conventional and organic sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Conventional Maize (Grain & Silage) Wide range of conventional maize grain and silage varieties adapted to European soil and climatic conditions, covering maturity groups from FAO 230 to 650. Sold to conventional and organic farmers and distributors.
• RH & RH+ High-Oil Maize Exclusive Panam France innovation providing high-quality energy source produced directly on farms. RH varieties contain 7% oil; RH+ varieties contain 10-12% oil, with maturity from FAO 260 to over 500. First European high-oil maize programme.
• RH Optimum Genetic Associations Genetic associations combining RH maize, dent maize, and antioxidant-rich maize for maximum silage energy and milk yield. OPTIMUM 50 (50% Dent, 50% RH+) and OPTIMUM 50+Antho variants available, offering up to +€500/ha benefit for dairy farming operations.
• Luxurial Cover Crops (Diploid Oat) Pioneer European diploid oat (Avena strigosa) cover crop solutions including Luxurial (pure stand), Logisol (Luxurial + Vetch blend), and Rumisol (Luxurial + Vetch + Clover blend) for soil improvement, erosion control, and protection.
• Sunflower (Linoleic & Oleic) Linoleic and oleic sunflower hybrids with IMI and Sulfo herbicide tolerance and broomrape resistance. Includes varieties such as Kendo, Noumea SU, Obaska, Liska SU, Magma SU (linoleic) and Spiro, Lazco, Okari (oleic).
• Camelina Winter oilseed crop rich in omega-3 (38%), vitamin E, and antioxidants. Protected varieties Camares and Melina selected for high ALA, EPA, DHA content with low erucic acid and glucosinolates. Applications include food, cosmetics, and aviation biofuels.
• Chia Oruro First chia variety (Oruro) adapted for cultivation at European/French latitudes, developed through conventional breeding. Enables local chia production in substitution of imports, with 500 ha of production since launch.
• High-Protein Soybean (Newport) High-protein soybean varieties including Newport (group 000) with 46% average protein content and light hilum, and Primus variety with white hilum, suited for human food and animal nutrition sectors.
• Anthocyanin Maize Purple maize rich in anthocyanins (4000 mg/100g) with antioxidant capacity higher than blueberries. Used as natural colorants (E163), heat-resistant flour up to 200°C, and as fat protector in high-oil silage maize silos.
• Amaranth Pseudo-cereal with high nutritional value rich in complete proteins and minerals, representing diversification opportunity for farms seeking distinctive crops.
• Textile Hemp Seeds Industrial hemp seed production dedicated to textile industry, aiming to strengthen national self-sufficiency with seeds produced in France.

Quantifiable outcome

• +1.9 kg of milk per day per dairy cow through RH maize feeding
• +4 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Chia-Innov ConsortiumflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Co-funded by European Regional Development Fund with nearly 2 million euros budget. Four partners collaborated on developing a national chia supply chain: Coreva (oil mill), LCA (agro-industrial chemistry laboratory), Emeraude (cosmetics laboratory), and Panam (varietal breeding). Enabled pioneering research into multi-sector applications of chia seed for food, cosmetics, and biofuels.
• AGROFÜNcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAGROFÜN manages the development and supply chain for Panam's chia and camelina varieties including protected varieties Camares and Melina. They coordinate the Filière Chia de France and Filière Caméline de France, integrating producers, collectors, processing industries, and distribution with pre-agreed pricing and contracted production.
• Chia de France (Filière Chia de France)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerDedicated supply chain organization promoting chia cultivated in France. Panam works hand-in-hand with this partner to promote chia cultivation, substituting imports with high-value domestic production. 500 ha of chia production established since 2017.
• Filière Caméline de FrancecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerIntegrated supply chain for French camelina, backed by Fondation de France. Coordinates all partners including producers, collectors, processing industries, and distribution. Prices defined in advance with all production contracted. Farmers receive stable, remunerative pricing with seeds provided free of charge.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Saatbau Linz: Austrian/central European cooperative seed company with maize, cereals, and oilseed portfolios; comparable mid-scale independent competitor outside France.

Direct peers

• Euralis Semences: French seed subsidiary of Euralis cooperative, active in maize, sunflower, and sorghum genetics with comparable European distribution footprint.
• RAGT Semences: French regional seed company (part of InVivo group) breeding maize, sunflower, sorghum, and cereals for European markets — directly comparable mid-scale competitor.
• Jouffray-Drillaud: French independent seed company specializing in cover crops, forages, and field crops — directly comparable on diploid oat (Luxurial-style) and cover crop offerings.
• Nuseed: Nufarm subsidiary focused on specialty oilseeds including camelina and sunflower, with comparable omega-3/oil profile positioning in food and biofuel end-markets.
• Florimond Desprez: French independent family-owned breeder of sugar beet, cereals, and forage crops — comparable in size, family ownership structure, and conventional breeding focus.
• Caussade Semences (Groupe Caussade): French independent seed company with overlapping maize, sunflower, and cover crop portfolios serving European farmers through similar direct and distributor channels.
• Maïsadour Semences: Cooperative-owned French seed arm focused on maize genetics for southwestern France, with similar varietal positioning and farmer-customer model.

Broad incumbents

• KWS SAAT: Major European seed breeder in maize, sugar beet, and cereals; a larger incumbent with overlapping conventional genetics and broader international reach.
• Limagrain (Vilmorin & Cie): French-headquartered global seed giant (cooperative-owned) with extensive maize, sunflower, and cereal seed portfolios — much larger but operates in same crop segments.

Market position

Strengths2 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

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 Panam France