About us
Cérience is a seed breeder and a solution designer for the agriculture of today and tomorrow!
Cérience, a new agricultural player
Cérience is a French company coming from the merger of two entities of the Terrena agricultural cooperative: Jouffray-Drillaud and Terrena Semences.
Cérience, L'Agronome semencier has the ambition to support the agricultural and food transition, by contributing to the value of the farms while promoting the sustainability of the soils and of the ecosystems.
In order to develop what is now called the 3rd agricultural path, Cérience is involved in the creation, the breeding, the production and the marketing of seeds, technological solutions and innovative and durable bio-inputs.
Cérience, a name with a strong meaning
The roots of the name Cérience come from the Roman mythology, as it refers to:
Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture, harvest and fertility.
Through its ending, Cérience resonates with experience and science; the experience of passionate women and men, a synonym of innovation and solution.
In its graphic layout, the first letter of Cérience proudly appears like an initial - it seems to introduce a new story, the first step of the third agricultural path!
L'Agronome semencier, a committed signature
The signature L'Agronome semencier expresses our ambition to become a key player of the agricultural transformation. A transformation based on the use of sustainable seeds and solutions and on a new agronomic approach. A solid and unique expertise, thanks to our know-how and our proximity to agricultural players.
More than 50 years of experience!
If Cérience seems to be a young sprout which just got out of the ground, it has in fact a deep root with more than 50 years of experience and passion!
Here are few events that marked the history of the company.
1967
Birth of the Jouffray & Drillaud company
The family businesses Jouffray and Drillaud, specialised in forage seed distribution teamed up in 1967 and set up their industrial tools in Cissé (Vienne province, France). The company began its growth in the West of France and quickly established itself as a French leader in the agri-supply market.
1976
First production of seeds within the Terrena Cooperative
The seed production activity starting in the 70s was due to meet a local supply goal. At first, the production was focused on forage species and allowed the establishment of a seed production industry in the west of France.
To fulfill the needs of this new industry, a network of production farmers has gradually been implemented on the cooperative territory.
1984
Inauguration of Beaufort-en-Vallée maize factory
The Terrena cooperative inaugurated its maize production factory in 1984 in Beaufort-en-Vallée in the Maine-et-Loire province, France. This industrial deployment was a decisive step to assert and structure the production of seeds and services. At that time, the seed production site of Beaufort-en-Vallée was one of the biggest in Europe.
1990
The Beaufort-en-Vallée factory got ISO 9001 certified
Committed to an approach of permanent improvement of the customers’ satisfaction, Terrena Semences quickly got involved to implement an ISO 9001 certified quality management. This approach allowed the company to guarantee products and services in accordance with the highest standards. Jouffray-Drillaud got the ISO 9001 certification in 2002.
1994
Set-up of the Jouffray-Drillaud R&D station and of the GIE GRASS
Created in 1994, the Jouffray-Drillaud breeding and research station gave a real kick-start to varietal creation.
New breeding programms were started for alfalfa, forage speices and then white lupine. The Jouffray-Drillaud station became the head office of the new GIE GRASS combining 3 seed companies and 3 farmer cooperatives. The breeding activity of this group is mainly focusing on forage species such as alfalfa, ray-grass, tall fescue and cocksfoot, etc.
A second breeding and research station was created in the french province of Loiret and was mostly dedicated on cover crops species such as black oat, vetches, clovers, etc.
1996
Launch of vegetable seed multiplication activity
Terrena Semences started the production of vegetable seeds. Being in the heart of the Anjou Basin, its location is particularly suitable to grow vegetables: temperate climate and high quality soil. Therefore, Terrena Semences created a network of specialised production farmers and developed a specific support team for open field or green houses crops.
1998
Launch of the SURF 2000 adjuvant
As a pioneer, Jouffray-Drillaud started to develop and distribute plant health product adjuvants at the end of the 90s. Those products improve the performance of plant health products when used in difficult conditions. Thus, they support to the reduction of plant health products use. Surf 2000 adjuvant was a great success.
2000
Jouffray-Drillaud joins the Terrena group
In 2000, the Terrena Group acquired Jouffray-Drillaud. With this new subsidiary, the Terrena cooperative confirmed its strategic will to develop a strong seed branch within its territory and organisation.
The cooperative has a unique chain of skills: Varietal creation, seed production, distribution and providing added value to the farmers.
2010
The development of seed technologies
Terrena Semences and Jouffray-Drillaud developed, almost simultaneously, their techno-seed activity.
Jouffray-Drillaud made major industrial investments while developing its own coating processes: SAS technologies (seed applied solutions).
These new processes quickly became reputed thank to their high standards concerning dust control and germination rate.
Currently, more than 70% of Cérience’s alfalfa seeds are marketed with the SAS technology.
2012
Jouffray-Drillaud introduces Eco-Performance
In 2012, Jouffray-Drillaud took a new direction and gave a name to its new corporate strategy: Eco Performance. The new company logo incorporated this signature.
With the Eco Performance the company demonstrated a front-running and committed position! The aim was to combine economic performance of the farms with environment friendly products and solutions.
This strategy was supported by many projects: cover crops, companion plants, bio-sourced solutions, biocontrol, etc.
2016
Launch of Messager, 1st biocontrol product.
Jouffray-Drillaud started the Messager, a biocontrol solution to control mildew and grapevine powdery mildew. This innovative product uses the active ingredient COS-OGA which stimulates the natural defences of the plant. The development and the licensing of this solution were made in partnership with Fytofend, a company from the University of Namur (Belgium).
2016
Creation of the complete service offer 360 SEED SERVICE
Terrena Semences launched its 360 Seed Service offer in 2016.
Designed for seed companies and breeders from all over the world, this concept offers a complete and unique level of services, from seed production to delivery.
This offer is composed of 4 major fields of competences: R&D, production, seed technology and supply chain.
2021
Birth of Cérience, l'Agronome semencier.
A merging project was initiated in 2018 between Terrena Semences and Jouffray-Drillaud. Named Feelgreen, the aim of this project was to qualify the synergies between the two subsidiaries of the Terrena Group, to set-up its organisation and the strategic development axes.
The Feelgreen project became a reality in Mars 2021, with the announcement of the creation of Cérience!
Its legal birth took place on the 1st of July 2021.
Discover our brochure
To know more about Cérience, please download and share our institutional brochure in PDF format.
Go to next pages :
About us - Ambitions and Values - Our activities
Key figures & implantations - The innovative spirit
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