The vegetable seed market - France

The global vegetable seeds market, valued at $6.76 billion in 2020, is expected to reach $7.17 billion in 2021, with a growth rate of 6.78% from 2021 to 2028. The French market has been relatively stable, showing a slight increase from 746 million euros in the 2017/2018 season to 755 million euros in 2020/2021. France has established itself as one of the leading exporters of vegetable seeds, particularly within Europe, with Spain, Italy and the Netherlands being the leading importers.

The market is driven by population growth and the need to adapt agriculture to climate change. French exports of seeds, fruits and spores rose by 33.9% in 2021, making a significant contribution to the balance of trade. The sector is underpinned by substantial investment in research, funding for which has increased by 184%, from 37 million euros to 105 million euros in 2021. Employment in research has also risen by 58% in 2021.

The French market shows a preference for conventional commercial seeds, with a large proportion of the population using seeds from their own gardens for reseeding. Organic and hybrid seeds face adoption difficulties, mainly due to lack of information and perception of costs and benefits.

The market is highly regulated, requiring seeds to be listed in official catalogs, certified for commercial sale, and to comply with production and marketing rules.

The French appetite for market gardening: buying preferences and trends

As the world's population continues to grow, reaching 10 billion by 2050, demand for food production is predictably increasing. In France, this demographic trend, combined with the need to adapt agriculture to climate change, has become the main driver of growth in the vegetable seed market. It's clear that French consumers are increasingly interested in growing vegetables, with almost three quarters of them using seeds for their gardens. This trend is more pronounced among those with a large outdoor space or more than five years' gardening experience.

Interestingly, conventional and commercial seeds are the most frequently used, while seeds harvested for resowing in one's own garden account for a sizeable 25%. Among the different types of vegetables, green beans come out on top, with 92% of gardeners preferring to use seed, which is all the more remarkable given that 87% of green bean growers use seed exclusively. conversely, tomatoes are less often grown from seed, with only 38% of gardeners adopting this method.

In terms of purchasing habits, the majority of French seed buyers make their purchases on the eve of the sowing season, in physical stores. Specialized outlets such as garden centers and farm shops are frequented by 90% of seed buyers, demonstrating a clear preference for in-person purchases.

Online purchasing, on the other hand, is less popular, with only a small percentage of the population making frequent use of it. Despite their presence on the market, organic and hybrid seeds face considerable obstacles to widespread acceptance.

A large proportion of those surveyed, around 85%, do not opt for organic seed, price and lack of information being the main deterrents. Hybrid seeds face a similar situation, with 98% of survey participants turning away from them, mainly due to a lack of understanding. Understanding the nuances of the French market, in particular the habits and preferences of French consumers when it comes to vegetable seeds, is essential for players seeking to meet the needs of this segment.

The French vegetable seed market is indeed an active one, with trends showing a steady and growing interest in gardening that aligns with broader global demands for sustainable food production practices. which is an integral part of the global seed industry, is shaped by a number of influential players, each contributing to France's prominent position as one of Europe's leading seed exporters and consumers.

Among the main players,

• Vilmorin & Cie stands out as the market leader, not only on a national scale, but also on a global one. As the seed subsidiary of the Limagrain cooperative, Vilmorin & Cie has successfully positioned itself against global giants such as Bayer-Monsanto and Syngenta.this testifies to Vilmorin & Cie's strategic focus and innovation in the niche markets of fennel, lamb's lettuce, spinach, chard and radish.
• The Groupement national interprofessionnel des semences et plants(SEMAE), which supports the sector with essential data and market information, facilitating informed decision-making and growth, joins the upper echelon. SEMAE's mission is to dissect market dynamics and identify trends in national and international vegetable seed trade. They shed light on the number and types of organizations within the various segments, from breeders and growers to distributors, providing an overview of the market structure.
• With regard to research and development, which form the backbone of genetic improvement and adaptation to challengesfis such as climate change, French organizations such as the Groupe d'étude et de contrôle des variétés et des semences (GEVES) play a crucial role. GEVES oversees DUS and VATE testing for new varieties before they can be registered in official catalogs - a prerequisite for their release onto the market.
• The market is also driven by various grower associations, such as the Fédération Nationale des Agriculteurs Multiplicateurs de Semences(FNAMS), which closely follows the interests of seed growers, thus completing the spectrum of key players in the French vegetable seed industry.
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Together, these entities create a market characterized by strong participation at different levels of the value chain and a commitment to quality and innovation, ensuring France's continued leadership of the global seed market.

Inforamtion

• Number of pages : 30 pages
• Format : Digital and PDF versions
• Last update : 01/12/2022

Summary and extracts

List of charts

• Trends in vegetable seed market size
• Sales trends in the vegetable and flower seeds market (excluding vegetable and flower seedlings)
• Total sales in the seed industry
• Export of seeds, fruits and spores for sowing
• Main countries importing French seeds, fruits and spores for sowing
• French imports of seeds, fruits and spores for sowing
• Main countries exporting seeds, fruits and spores for sowing to France
• France's trade balance in seeds, fruits and spores for sowing
• Number of companies in the vegetable and flower seed market, by role
• Number of distributors in the vegetable and flower seed market
• Number of vegetable seed grower-multipliers
• Full-time equivalent (FTE) employment in the vegetable and flower seed market
• FTE jobs in vegetable and flower seed research
• Budget trends in vegetable and flower seed research
• Change in the purchase price index for vegetable, flower and textile seeds
• How the French buy seeds for their vegetable garden
• Breakdown of crops between seeds and seedlings by crop species
• Answers to the question "How do you get your seeds?"
• Where to buy seeds
• French seed or seedling purchase period
• Percentage of respondents who buy back during the season
• What are the obstacles to buying organic seeds?
• What are the obstacles to buying hybrid seeds?
• What the French think of different florist brands
• What the French think of Interflora according to age
• How the French describe the Interflora brand