Creation of the France Plants association

The France Plants association was created in 2022, on the initiative of the FN3PT (Fédération Nationale des Producteurs de Plants de Pomme de Terre and the 3 Producer Organisations: Bretagne Plants, Comité Nord and Comité Centre et Sud), the 3 potato breeding stations (Bretagne Plants Innovation, SIPRE, GROCEP) and the collectors (Elorn Plants, LSA, Sementis, SIAC), who are the founding members.

The association is made up of 3 colleges: seed plant producers, breeding stations and collectors/exporters. France Plants is chaired this year by Yann Kervern, technical sales representative at Elorn Plants.

The objectives of France Plants

The France Plants association was set up to represent and defend the interests of the breeding stations, producers and collectors of seed potatoes established in France. It also enables joint actions to be taken to support the industry, particularly for export, for varieties bred in France and produced by the 3 breeding stations affiliated to the Producers' Organisations.

Actions taken

The main actions implemented focus on administrative and institutional support for discussions on specifications; support for registration procedures; evaluation trials with foreign partners; development of varietal licences abroad; participation in international trade fairs; representation at NGOs supporting agricultural development.

France Plants.       

Participation in the Fruit Logistica trade fair in Berlin

For the first time, the France Plants association was present at the Fruit Logistica trade fair held in Berlin in February 2023. The show gave the association the opportunity to represent the French potato plant industry by promoting potato varieties from French breeding stations.

Despite a smaller exhibition area and a smaller number of French exhibitors at the show, the potato sector was nevertheless represented by 13 exhibiting companies, including 3 in the seed potato sector. Thanks to the popularity of French-origin seed potatoes, the France Plants association was able to establish commercial and institutional contacts.

Other initiatives like this one are likely to be repeated, with the Potato Europe event due to take place in Belgium on 6 and 7 September 2023.

The France Plants association is open to other seed potato collectors* on the advice of its founding members.

Contacts

France Plants : contact@franceplants.com

Yann KERVERN, président France Plants : yann.kervern@franceplants.com

Bernard QUERE, director France Plants : bernard.quere@franceplants.com

*Collector = marketer