N
ew opportunities are opening for European seed com­
panies to access Agri Obtentions’ genetics as the French 
breeder looks beyond France for its next stage of growth.
The INRAE subsidiary is expanding into additional European 
markets through local partnerships, bringing a portfolio spanning 
15 field-crop species to seed businesses that already know their 
customers and production systems.
By combining that local market knowledge with Agri 
Obtentions’ genetics, research and breeding capacity, the part­
nerships can open new possibilities for varieties and crops that 
fit emerging needs in individual markets. 
“The opportunity is different in every market,” says François 
Cuvelier, sales director for France and export. “The question 
is where our genetics can strengthen what a seed company 
is already offering and help it respond to where demand is 
moving.”
Agri Obtentions has strengthened its export team, with Paul 
Debaut now covering half of Southern Europe alongside François.
EMERGING OPPORTUNITIES
As European rotations diversify, seed companies may need a 
broader range of crop and varietal solutions. Triticale is a good 
example.
In France, triticale is the third-largest straw cereal, with 
acreage growing from approximately 255,000 hectares in 2024 
to a projected 312,000 hectares in 2026, according to Agreste. 
Its relatively low nitrogen requirement may add to that appeal. 
According to Arvalis, triticale requires approximately 2.6 kg of 
nitrogen per quintal, compared with about 3 kg for bread wheat.
Agri Obtentions brings more than 40 years of triticale 
breeding experience to that opportunity, with significant varietal 
renewal in recent years. The company also points to grain yield, 
straw production, performance on difficult soils and suitability 
for low-input and organic systems as reasons for partners to 
consider where the crop could fit in their markets.
Partners looking for new ways to respond to Europe’s push 
for greater protein production may find another opportunity in 
winter pea and winter faba bean.
Even where protein-crop (pea, faba beans and lentils) acre­
age remains under pressure, Agri Obtentions continues to invest 
in genetics that could give partners more options as growing 
conditions shift. Climate change may strengthen the case for 
winter types: autumn sowing can help crops make better use of 
available water, spread production risk and avoid some late-cy­
cle stresses.
PARTNER CONTENT
More Genetics, More Markets: 
Agri Obtentions Looks Beyond France
BY: FRANÇOIS CUVELIER - EXPORT SALES DIRECTOR
“We’re looking for places where our genetics can answer a 
real market need,” François says. “That starts with understanding 
what growers are facing locally and where our breeding pro­
grams can bring something useful to the portfolio.”
A LONG VIEW ON INNOVATION
Behind those partnerships is more than four decades of varietal 
development. Founded in 1983, Agri Obtentions has approxi­
mately 60 employees and €15 million in turnover across France 
and Europe. It has released more than 450 varieties, works with 
more than 400 licensees and reinvests approximately 30% of 
revenue in R&D.
The company believes seed is the first vector of each coun­
try’s sovereignty, and that varietal innovation, kept accessible 
to all through Plant Breeders’ Rights (the French « certification 
d’obtention variétale » COV), is what gives the seed business a 
better future.
“Seed is the starting point for a country’s agricultural sover­
eignty,” François says. “Our role as breeders is to keep creating 
varietal innovation that gives farmers and seed companies more 
options for the challenges ahead.”
Paul Debaut and François Cuvelier, Export Sales Department
OCTOBER 2026  |  SEEDWORLD.COM/EUROPE  I  SEED WORLD EUROPE   I   67

View this content as a flipbook by clicking here.