Sustained investment in research

R&D	More than 1,400 researchers
	Budget: €157 million €220 million with partners	14% of sales of professional seeds
More than 100 research centers		Nearly 20% of the research budget devoted to plant biotechnologies

Today's breeders have access to new tools that mean they can work faster and more efficiently. With genotyping, and in particular Marker Assisted Selection (MAS), they can be more precise. With phenotyping, they can be more accurate in how they predict plant performances. With transgenesis, breeders can understand how living organisms function, and imagine new solutions. Knowledge obtained through transgenesis can be used in two areas: optimizing the conventional improvement of plants (conventional varieties) and adding new qualities to plants (transgenic varieties). Thanks to this trio – genotyping, phenotyping, transgenesis – new qualities can be found from genetic resources.

Limagrain's research is organized around approximately one hundred centers spread out over the world, and on breeding programs covering the main crops worked on by the Group. The challenge is crucial in terms of agronomic yield. Future progress in genetics will enable us to rise the challenges agricultural production to meet the needs of nine billion inhabitants in 2050.

Séverine Coop member, Espirat (France)

“In a region like ours, penalized by the fact that it is a long way from the major consumption centers, the cooperative tools that have been developed help to sustain local vitality while respecting human and social values. Production by contract gives better returns, evens out the effects of market price volatility and provides greater security to producers. The frequently organized training sessions and exchanges keep up links between farmers and strengthen solidarity, which is essential in our profession. Our region would certainly not have the same profile if it were not for cooperatives, and would no doubt be characterized by much greater individualism.”