RAGT Semences are Seed Force’s jointventure partners and have been involved with the company since Seed Force’s inception in 2006.
“The name ‘Seed Force’ emerged a few months after Warwick Green (Seed Force chairman) and Bruce Garrett (group general manager) approached us,” Claude Tabel, president of RAGT Semences, said.
“Warwick and Bruce came to visit us in France and convinced RAGT about the benefits of being involved in Australasian pasture-based farming.”
Tabel said fodder beet’s use in NZ’s pasture-based systems was unique and had contributed great value to farming in this country with good potential development in Australia and Europe.
Seed Force chairman Warwick Green said: “Seed Force pioneered the reintroduction of fodder beet into NZ agriculture and its widespread uptake.
"This species has enabled NZ livestock farmers to produce high-quality, high-yielding supplementary forage crops for use in winter and early spring and at the same time improve animal condition rather than just maintaining animals over this period.
“Today there is more fodder beet grown in NZ than wheat and the use of fodder beet across not only the dairy industry but also beef finishing, lamb finishing and deer finishing has huge potential.
"This industry now contributes greatly to growers’ profitability.”
