Tag Archives: seed

Bayer to sell Nunhems to get Monsanto deal through

Following rumours last month, Bayer has confirmed that it plans to sell of vegetable breeding division Nunhems in order to gain regulatory approval for its ongoing take-over bid for Monsanto.

The announcement comes as Bayer tries to reassure European regulators who have concerns about competition in key areas including seeds, traits and crop protection. Last year Bayer sold €5.9 billion of crop science assets to BASF.

“We have now also committed to divest our entire vegetable seed business. Certain additional business activities of Bayer and Monsanto may also be sold or out-licensed,” Management Board Chairman Werner Baumann said at a Financial News Conference in Leverkusen on 28 February. His comments have been interpreted by some that parts of Monstanto’s De Ruiter and Seminis brands could also be affected, but with Bayer and De Ruiter both being particularly active in tomato breeding, the divestment of Nunhems may satisfy regulators.

Photo Credit: Nunhems

The post Bayer to sell Nunhems to get Monsanto deal through appeared first on Hort News on 5 March 2018.

Seed breeders say impact of Brexit not appreciated

Representatives of the seed industry have told the Fresh Produce Journal that Defra has shown a “heartbreaking” lack of awareness of the potential effects of Brexit on the plant breeding and seed production sector.

There are fears that unless issues are addressed, UK farmers and growers could lose access to many varieties and that seed businesses could move away from the UK in order to maintain international and European links. Other issues include the potential loss of a common variety list and additional phytosanitary requirements.

Chief executive of the British Society for Plant Breeders (BSPB), Penny Mapleston, said, “Breeders will only be able to absorb the higher costs of registering new varieties if there is a guaranteed market. The number of varieties available in the UK market will be less. Fairly swiftly you will see production move overseas, where we will just import it back.”

Global seed breeder Rijk Zwaan’s country manager for the UK, Gerard van der Hut, commented, “What will happen is we will only register the variety we can sell. With new varieties if there’s not enough demand in the UK then we won’t sell them, so the choice given to the UK market could be limited.”

Photo Credit: pxhere

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New CEO for HM. Clause

HM.Clause has announced the appointment of Rémi Bastien as its new Chief Executive Officer, from the beginning of September 1. In his role, Mr. Bastien will also serve as chair of the company’s Global Strategy Team, the governing body that is responsible for crafting and executing the company’s long term roadmap. He will be Portes-les-Valence in France and will split his time between France and the firm’s US headquarters in Davis, California.

Mr. Bastien comes to HM.Clause from Limagrain Europe, where he was CEO, while also serving as President of the Union Française des Semenciers (UFS) maize section. Before that he was the Regional Director of Europe and Africa for Mérieux Nutrisciences, a company that specializes in food safety and quality. He has also worked for Monsanto and Pioneer Seeds.

“I see great value in this cooperative approach to governance because it promotes a culture of partnership, which in turn emphasizes collaboration and teamwork throughout the company,” said Mr Bastien. “I am thrilled to be taking the helm as CEO of HM.Clause, a company that I believe stands out in the competitive landscape as one of the most respected and trusted in the industry.”

 Photo Caption: Rémi Bastien will be based at HM Clause’s offices at Portes-les-Valence.

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