Sevita and Prograin develop research partnership

Feb 25, 2015

Both will continue to operate as separate companies

By Diego Flammini, Farms.com

Sometimes, one of your biggest competitors is the person best suited for a successful business partnership.

For instance, Sarnia engineering company MIG merged with their same-city rival, BKL to become one organization.

In the technology sector, giants Apple and IBM developed a relationship to create business apps and sell smartphones to customers.

A similar ideology is now being practiced in the agriculture world.

Canadian companies Sevita International and Semences Prograin are bringing their research capabilities together to develop non-GMO, high performance soybean varieties and calling it Sevita Genetics.

This research partnership will begin building a platform where Canadian and international farmers can order soybeans specific to their unique needs.

“I am very excited to meet this new challenge of managing another team of Canadian professionals dedicated to the research and development of soybeans,” said Eric Gagnon, Director of Research and Development at Sevita Genetics. “My objective is to work with both research teams at Prograin and Sevita, and to realize the full synergy that our combined strengths can bring to Canadian soybean research.”

Though the companies are working together on research and development, they will continue to operate and sell their products to customers on an independent basis.

“We are fully committed to our respective export customers and believe Sevita Genetics provides customer assurance that the supply of non-GMO soybean will continue, and will continue to be improved,” said Bob Hart, President of Sevita International. “We also envisage building new market opportunities together.”

Join the discussion and tell us what you think of these two companies working together. Will it change where you buy your soybeans from?