Richard Hébras – Director of Tree Seeds at Vilmorin-Mikado and Chairman of the GIE Semences Forestières Améliorées (testimonial from the dossier “Forest reproductive material: a challenge for the forests of tomorrow” – 2022)
“Through the GIE SFA, Vilmorin contributes to the management of seed orchards, harvesting, and marketing the products that come from them. We also take part in the Technical Coordination Committee (CTC) for orchards and the Permanent Technical Selection Committee (CTPS), where we pass on the industry’s needs to Research. For example, as part of the France Relance 2024 and France 2030 plans, which fund the creation of State orchards with a view to large-scale reforestation to ensure the renewal of dying forests and their adaptation to climate change, the industry’s demand over the next 10 years is for softwood and hardwood for construction. The seed orchard system will make it possible to produce quality seeds in sufficient quantity and with the intra- and inter-species diversity needed to ensure forest resilience. The first breeding programmes were launched by INRAE. This cutting-edge public research is recognised at European level. We now need to mobilise our scientific and technical expertise to plant new orchards and meet long-term needs.
Testimonial from our thematic dossier
Thematic dossier
Forest reproductive material: a challenge for the forests of tomorrow
Thanks to French public policies focused on reforestation through planting, France has increased its forest area by 1.5 million hectares in 50 years. But the adaptability of the species used for reforestation raises questions: what characteristics are important for the trees of tomorrow? Which species should be planted where? What inter- and intraspecific genetic diversity needs should be anticipated? INRAE’s work on the varietal selection of forest species and the creation and management of seed production structures (seed orchards and seed-bearing stands) is helping to design a more resilient forest by guaranteeing the genetic origin and quality of forest seeds.
