Lidea has been firmly rooted in the South-West of France since 1936, and benefits from a strong European network of 16 subsidiaries spreading from the Atlantic to the Urals. All our sales teams are deployed on the European continent as close as possible to our customers and markets to ensure proximity and develop trust. An international development team builds partnerships beyond the European continent. Today, Lidea varieties can be found across all 5 continents and are sold in 48 countries. Lidea inherits agronomic and industrial expertise gained from a strong Research and Development network established throughout Europe, to innovate in the production of very high-quality seeds capable of responding precisely and appropriately to all growing conditions.<h2 style="text-align:justify;">KEY DATES:</h2>1936: Creation of the Adour Basin wheat cooperative, which will become Euralis 1950: Euralis is the first company to undertake a private research programme on corn seeds 1958: Creation of the agricultural cooperative for seed drying and conditioning (SICA SCS), which will become Caussade Semences SA 1973: Research programme on non-GMO sunflower and soybean 1975: Becomes a certified seed breeder in straw cereals 1983: Launch of a rapeseed breeding programme 1989: Market development in Europe (Germany, Belgium...) 1997: Becomes a shareholder of Biogemma, a French plant biotechnology company (which becomes Innolea in 2019) 2001: Creation of the GIE (Economic Interest Grouping) ACTISEM, with two other partners, for the marketing of straw cereals 2002: Consolidation of sunflower research activities with the acquisition of Rustica 2003: Membership of the Economic Interest Grouping GRASS (breeding of grasses and forage legumes) 2004: Acquisition of the research activity of straw cereal breeder SOGROUP 2007/2016: Market expansion across Central and Eastern Europe with sites in Spain, Italy, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Poland, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Ukraine and Russia 2009: Creation of Eurosorgho, the first sorghum research programme in Europe 2020: on 1 September, merger of CAUSSADE SEMENCES and EURALIS SEMENCES and creation of Lidea

Lidea's history 

HISTORY OF LIDEA

Lidea offers a wide range of seeds for corn, sunflower, cereals, rapeseed, soybean, sorghum, pulses, forages and plant cover and markets its seeds in 55 countries across the world. Today, 6 million hectares are sown with Lidea varieties.

OUR MISSION AS A SEED COMPANY

A COOPERATIVE GROUP

<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:703/433;" src="https://api-com.lidea-seeds.com/uploads/2025/05/lidea_in_number.png" width="703" height="433"></figure><h3>55 Countries – Global Reach</h3>Lidea’s seeds and services are marketed in over 55 countries worldwide. Our international footprint allows us to support a wide variety of farming systems, climates, and agricultural practices, offering consistent quality and adaptability wherever our customers grow.<h3>7 Production Sites in Europe</h3>We operate 7 production sites across Europe. These facilities are strategically located closer to customers to ensure:<ul><li>High seed quality</li><li>Efficient seed processing and logistics</li><li>Full traceability and compliance with the highest standards in seed production thanks to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lidea-seeds.com/news/lidea/how-lidea-embeds-workplace-safety-and-achieves-iso-45001-certification-in-the-seed-industry">ISO 45001 certification</a>.</li></ul>Each site supports the production of a broad range of hybrid seeds and conventional seed varieties to meet local and international demand.

Key Figures – Lidea at a Glance

KEY FIGURES

At a time when agriculture is undergoing major changes, Lidea offers expertise and multi-crop seed solutions that meet the needs of farmers and those of the entire value chain.<ul><li>Historical geographical roots in the south-west of France, with strong development throughout Wider Europe.</li><li>Multi-crop products with shared and complementary expertise on certain crops.</li><li>Command of the entire value chain: from breeding and seed production in the field to marketing of finished products.</li><li>Strong shared human values.</li></ul><figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1440/512;" src="https://api-com.lidea-seeds.com/uploads/2025/05/untitled_design_18_.png" width="1440" height="512"></figure>

Who are we?

Our missions

Our activities

Keys to our success

Where are we?

LIDEA BRINGS BETTER YIELD

<h3>We Create Value Through Innovation</h3>At Lidea, we invest in R&amp;D to deliver a comprehensive and differentiated portfolio of hybrid seeds and seed technologies. Our commitment to seed research and seed development enables us to bring innovative seed solutions to market that are tailored to diverse farming needs.<ul><li>Breeding: Leveraging cutting-edge genetics to create high-performance, resilient seed varieties such as with our new rapeseed gene flow.</li><li>Development: Applying the latest seed technologies to enhance seed performance and integrate new farming practices.</li><li>Decision Support Tools: Providing digital services that improve crop management (Top Sowing, Top Silo) and optimise production outcomes.</li></ul><h3 style="text-align:justify;">Customised Support, Closer to the Field</h3>We believe that proximity is key to success. Lidea places customer satisfaction at the heart of its strategy by working closely with farmers, understanding their challenges, and co-developing customised solutions.Our approach combines agricultural advice, technical support, and field-proven practices to address the specific needs of each farm, whether in terms of crop choice, rotational planning, or sustainability goals.<h3 style="text-align:justify;">Sustainable and Responsible Seed Solutions</h3>Lidea is determined to become a major player in certain segments including agroecological solutions and organic. Lidea offers sustainable solutions that meet farmers’ expectations and take account of climate and environmental challenges.<h3 style="text-align:justify;"> Multi-Crop Expertise to Optimise Farm Profitability</h3>Lidea offers an extensive range of multi-crop seeds to support diverse farming systems and maximise farm profitability. Our portfolio includes:<ul><li>Maize (Corn)</li><li>Sunflower</li><li>Sorghum</li><li>Oilseed crops like rapeseed</li><li>Cereals</li><li>Forage crops</li><li>Cover crops</li><li>Soybean</li><li>Pulses</li></ul>This wide choice enables flexible and efficient crop rotation, supporting soil health and long-term farm viability.<h3>A Year-Round Partner for Farmers</h3>Lidea supports farmers throughout the entire cropping calendar. By offering both winter and spring crops, we ensure continuity and adaptability across all production contexts. Our seeds and services are designed to enhance crop performance in all seasons, helping farmers make the most of every hectare.At Lidea, we are more than a seed supplier — we are a trusted partner, innovating every day to meet the challenges of tomorrow’s agriculture.

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