Davis, California, USA
March 23, 2015
The Seed Biotechnology Center at the University of California, Davis, recently called on members of the agriculture, biotechnology and seed industries to help meet a $2.5 million fundraising goal set to establish an endowed chair position at the center. The position is being created in honor of Dr. Kent Bradford, the center’s founder and director, and a plant sciences professor. “Reaching this goal will allow for the ongoing management and operation of the center and help to preserve its leading position in research and education,” said Helene Dillard, Dean of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
Limagrain, the world’s fourth largest seed company, responded to the call by announcing that it will make a gift of US $500,000 to help establish the endowed chair position. The announcement was made on March 12, at the Seed Central event at UC Davis, a monthly gathering of industry professionals, students and professors organized through the SBC. “At Limagrain, we recognize the value of long-term relationships and investments in the future. This gift is aligned with our strategic goal of supporting the future of the seed industry, not just in France, but around the world,” said Daniel Chéron, CEO of Limagrain.
The company’s partnership with UC Davis originated through its relationship with HM.CLAUSE, a Business Unit of Limagrain with headquarters in Davis, California as well as in Portes-lès-Valence, France. “For over 100 years, UC Davis been a world leader in plant breeding and agricultural science. The university has paved the way for research breakthroughs in genomics, plant breeding and seed science that have benefited not only the ag industry but consumers at large,” said André Cariou, Vice President of Global Sales for HM.CLAUSE.
While the gift from Limagrain is the first contribution in support of this initiative, it is expected that other organizations from the seed industry and the wider agricultural community will soon follow suit.
For more information on this initiative, please visit: http://sbc.ucdavis.edu/About_US/An_Endowment_for_the_Future/
About the Seed Biotechnology Center (SBC)
The Seed Biotechnology Center, located at UC Davis, was established in 1999 by an insightful and forward-thinking group of partners from the seed industry and at UC Davis to provide advanced research, education, training and scientific information on seed issues and technologies. The center’s research efforts have helped identify molecular markers in vegetables and wheat that have contributed to the ongoing advancement of the agriculture industry. SBC also offers professional development courses and workshops for seed industry professionals as well as trains skilled breeders and geneticists for the workforce.
About Limagrain
Limagrain, an international cooperative group founded and directed by French farmers, moves agriculture forward to meet food challenges. As a creator and producer of plant varieties, Limagrain markets seeds intended for farmers, growers and home gardeners. The Group extends and exploits this know-how on the markets for cereal ingredients and bakery products intended for agri-food industrialists and consumers.
Limagrain is the fourth largest seed company in the world (field seeds and vegetable seeds), the European leader for functional flours, and the No. 1 French industrial baker, all with strong brands in their markets.
Limagrain makes sales of almost 2 billion Euros and has more than 8,600 employees spread over 41 countries, including more than 1,800 working in research. The Limagrain Cooperative has almost 2,000 farmer members.
About HM.CLAUSE
HM.CLAUSE is a global vegetable seed company dedicated to meeting local needs through global diversity, and is committed to innovation inspired by worldwide partnerships in the scientific, industrial, and commercial fields. An innovative company whose core business is plant breeding, HM.CLAUSE specializes in the development, production, and sales of vegetable seeds worldwide. In 2008, Harris Moran Seed Company (USA) and Clause (France) were grouped together under the HM.CLAUSE Business Unit of Limagrain. HM.CLAUSE generated €257 million in annual sales in 2013 and employs more than 2,200 people full-time located in over 30 countries around the world. Its investments in research and breeding represent 15 percent of annual sales. The organization coordinates breeding for 25 species and has more than 350 people actively engaged in research and development activities. HM.CLAUSE is a business unit of Limagrain, an international agricultural co-operative group, specializing in field seeds, vegetable seeds and cereal products. Founded and managed by French farmers, Limagrain is the fourth largest seed company in the world, and the only leading seed company that is not also a chemical company.
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