GDM announces agreement to acquire AgReliant Genetics

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — GDM, a global plant genetics company committed to empowering farmers and advancing global agriculture, announced an agreement to acquire 100% of the shares in AgReliant Genetics, a leading North American provider of corn and soybean seeds.

The strategic acquisition brings together GDM’s global scale, long-time reputation for world-class innovation and elite soybean genetics expertise with AgReliant’s market leadership in corn breeding and genetics, strengthening GDM’s portfolio of high-performing seed solutions for growers and underscoring its commitment to growth in the region.

“The GDM and AgReliant teams share a commitment to helping growers get the highest yield for their fields, and we are excited to welcome them into the GDM family,” said Ignacio Bartolomé, CEO of GDM.

“This acquisition is a significant development for both companies and a major milestone in GDM’s growth strategy in North America. It will allow us to serve farmers with an expanded and differentiated high-performance portfolio of solutions and create new opportunities to drive innovation, accelerate business growth and lead both sides of the acres.”

Founded in 2000 as a joint venture by global seed companies KWS and Limagrain, and headquartered in Westfield in central Indiana, AgReliant is a key player in the North American seed industry, serving farmers with corn, soybeans, sorghum and alfalfa seeds through its AgriGold and LG Seeds brands in the United States and its PRIDE Seeds brand in Canada.

The company holds one of the world’s largest North American temperate corn genetic pools and fourth largest corn research program.

Together with GDM’s leading soybean genetic licensing business and own brands, including Mustang Seeds, Revere and DONMARIO, this strategic acquisition, including corn germplasm rights, will enhance GDM’s competitiveness in the market.

This expanded footprint enables GDM to offer growers a broader portfolio of solutions while maintaining the company’s focus on high performance and collaboration with the entire agricultural chain.

“Farmers across North America stand to benefit tremendously from AgReliant joining GDM,” said Brian Barker, CEO of AgReliant. “Together, we are combining global innovation with local insights to create a more powerful, integrated seed portfolio that delivers greater value to the farmers we serve.”

Currently the global leader in soybean genetics, GDM is expected to become the fourth-largest corn genetics provider worldwide when the transaction is complete.

The integration of AgReliant’s North American operations allows GDM to deliver greater choice to farmers, emphasizing its commitment to innovation and performance.

As part of the AgReliant acquisition, Barker is expected to become GDM’s North American business leader.

Philip Chandler, who currently serves as GDM’s regional business leader, will continue to oversee GDM’s legacy business in the United States.

“This is a win-win for our teams and the customers we serve in North America, from individual farmers to independent seed companies,” Bartolomé said.

“With this next step in our journey, we are ensuring they can continue to access the world-class genetics, service and long-term partnership they have come to rely on.”