Acquisition combines soybean and corn seed operations, expanding presence in North American market.
GDM, a global plant genetics company, announced an agreement to acquire full ownership of Agreliant Genetics, a North American supplier of corn and soybean seeds. The acquisition combines GDM’s soybean genetics with AgReliant’s corn breeding capabilities, increasing GDM’s seed product offerings in North America.
“The GDM and AgReliant teams share a commitment to helping growers get the highest yield for their fields, and we are excited to welcome them into the GDM family,” said Ignacio Bartolomé, chief executive officer, GDM. “This acquisition is a significant development for both companies and a major milestone in GDM’s growth strategy in North America. It will allow us to serve farmers with an expanded and differentiated high-performance portfolio of solutions and create new opportunities to drive innovation, accelerate business growth and lead both sides of the acres.”
Founded in 2000 as a joint venture between the global seed companies KWS and Limagrain, and based in Westfield, Indiana, AgReliant operates in the North American seed industry. The company supplies corn, soybean, sorghum, and alfalfa seeds through its AgriGold® and LG Seeds brands in the U.S. and its PRIDE® Seeds brand in Canada. AgReliant maintains one of the largest North American temperate corn genetic pools and operates the fourth largest corn research program.
Combined with GDM’s soybean genetic licensing business and its own seed brands — including Mustang Seeds, Revere, and DONMARIO — this acquisition, which includes corn germplasm rights, expands GDM’s presence in the market, according to a press release.
“Farmers across North America stand to benefit tremendously from AgReliant joining GDM,” said Brian Barker, CEO of AgReliant. “Together, we are combining global innovation with local insights to create a more powerful, integrated seed portfolio that delivers greater value to the farmers we serve.”
GDM is currently a leading company in soybean genetics and is expected to become the fourth-largest corn genetics provider globally once the transaction is completed. The integration of AgReliant’s North American operations will expand GDM’s product offerings to farmers. As part of the acquisition, Barker is expected to assume leadership of GDM’s North American business, while Philip Chandler will continue to manage GDM’s existing operations in the U.S.
“This is a win-win for our teams and the customers we serve in North America, from individual farmers to independent seed companies,” said Bartolomé. “With this next step in our journey, we are ensuring they can continue to access the world-class genetics, service and long-term partnership they have come to rely on.”
