Selecting plant varieties for tomorrow’s needs (GEVES)

The GEVES (Groupement d’Études et de Contrôle des Variétés et Semences – Group for the Study and Control of Varieties and Seeds) responds to the challenges of food safety, the economic and environmental aspects of agriculture, the competitiveness of the seed industry in the context of adaptation to climate change and the preservation of plant genetic resources in France.

Official missions to regulate seeds and seedlings

GEVES is a public entity with expertise in the evaluation of varieties, seeds and seedlings, and in structuring the preservation of plant genetic resources. In application of the regulations in varieties, seeds and seedlings, it is responsible for carrying out official missions that contribute to guaranteeing the quality of varieties, intellectual protection and the conformity of marketed seeds. It carries out R&D work to develop or improve the evaluation and analysis methods required for its missions. The GEVES also coordinates the national conservation of plant genetic resources on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture.

GEVES produces technical regulations for the registration of varieties, methods of varietal analysis and evaluation, varietal evaluation data, analysis results and varietal description sheets. These technical regulations and assessment or analysis methods are approved by the competent authorities at national (ministry), European or international level.

A strategic partnership for INRAE

As a founding member of the GIP GEVES, INRAE supports the latter’s actions which contribute to the performance of French and European agriculture. The missions included in the permanent support system for the implementation of public policies are the evaluation of varieties that are candidates for inclusion in the official catalogue, and the control, certification and protection of seeds.

Reciprocally, as part of its Research and Development policy, GEVES collaborates on major research projects with INRAE teams, for example on stopping the use of pesticides on seeds or adapting varieties to agroecological practices. It is also developing partnerships with INRAE teams on issues such as variety evaluation in relation to climate change. Lastly, GEVES produces and manages large quantities of data linked to research and development programmes, variety evaluations and laboratory analyses, which constitute a valuable resource for research projects.