Editor’s Note
This article highlights a significant €16 million investment by the Pays de la Loire Agricultural Cooperative in a new seed processing plant. The facility, located in Longué-Jumelles, aims to meet growing market demand by handling up to 25,000 tonnes of food seeds annually.
A Plant at the Heart of Angevin Crops
The Pays de la Loire Agricultural Cooperative (CAPL) inaugurated a new plant on Thursday, September 19, in Longué-Jumelles, Maine-et-Loire. This facility has the capacity to receive, sort, store, and package up to 25,000 tonnes of food seeds per year. This €16 million investment addresses a future market, which has grown by 20% over the last five years.
“Here, we are right in the heart of our members’ territory (about 2,500). 98% of our 500 seed producers cultivate within an 80 km radius. This innovative project aligns with the changes in our society and is a response to the agriculture of tomorrow. Perles d’Anjou helps reduce the financial risks of monoculture for the farmer and also allows for reasoned agriculture, while ensuring outlets for a quality product that meets society’s expectations,” explains Christian Blet, President of the Pays de la Loire Agricultural Cooperative (CAPL).
A Low-Carbon Building
The 7,000 m² building currently extends over an area of 2.5 hectares.
“The low-carbon steel structure allowed us to save 17 tonnes of carbon equivalent,” says Jérôme Lemasson, General Manager of CAPL. “The plant rests on 450 piles because we are in a wetland area. We have rainwater collectors and will install photovoltaic panels in the parking lot.”
€16 Million Invested
This €16 million project is financed up to 48% by the Maine-et-Loire economic development agency Alter éco. The remaining 52% is covered by public subsidies, interprofessional funds, own contributions, and crowdfunding via a Cooperative Society of Collective Interest (SCIC) launched in 2023.
“From the first year, private individuals, who make up the majority at 60%, invested up to €1 million, and we hope to reach €2 million within five years,” adds Jérôme Lemasson.
State-of-the-Art Technology
CAPL, which has an annual turnover of €263 million, has invested in nine Swiss high-tech machines that allow for cleaning, sorting, hulling, and delivering a product with a guaranteed purity of 99.95%, thus meeting the quality and traceability standards expected in food safety.
“It’s a first in France and even in Europe to have all these machines aligned on the same production line,” highlights Sébastien Beauvallet, Director of Grain Activities. “Those at the end of the line in particular (the optical sorter, the huller, the polisher) allow us to address new markets, such as hulled chickpeas for example.”
A Second Production Line to Come
A second production line will be relocated from the neighboring plant in Brissac in the coming months to move to a 3×8 shift operation (increasing the total workforce across the two sites from the current 9 to 15 employees) and thus multiply sorting capacity by four, going from one tonne to four tonnes of seeds per hour.
“We have had loyal clients for fifteen years because we have been able to adapt to market changes. Perles d’Anjou meets a strong expectation from our members and clients. But we remain attentive and are open to anything. In the medium term, we will be able to respond to other requests for valorizing other seeds from Anjou… or elsewhere!” anticipates Sébastien Beauvallet.
