Seminis is a developer, grower, and marketer of fruit and vegetable

seeds A seed is an embryonic plant enclosed in a protective outer covering, along with a food reserve. The formation of the seed is a part of the process of reproduction in seed plants, the spermatophytes, including the gymnosperm and angiosperm pl ...

, currently a subsidiary of

Bayer Bayer AG (, commonly pronounced ; ) is a German multinational corporation, multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company and one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. Headquartered in Leverkusen, Bayer's areas of busi ...

. Seminis' hybrids claim to improve nutrition, boost crop yields, limit spoilage and reduce the need for chemicals. Their retail line includes over 3,500 seed varieties.

History

Seminis was established in 1994 by

Alfonso Romo Alfonso Carlos Romo Garza (born 8 October 1950), known as Alfonso Romo, is a Monterrey businessman, agro-industrialist. He founded the ''Opción Ciudadana'' (Citizen Option) party in 2005. He is the owner of VECTOR Casa de Bolsa, the largest fun ...

under his Savia Group, a part of the Empresas La Moderna S.A. conglomerate, to consolidate leading companies in the fragmented fruit and vegetable seed industry. The goal was realized by takeovers of several companies, including

Asgrow Asgrow is seed company owned and operated by Bayer Crop Science. History The Associated Seed Growers, Inc. ("Asgrow") was formed in 1927 when seed competitors Everett B. Clark Seed Co., John H. Allen Seed Co., and N.B. Keeney & Son joined toge ...

, Petoseed, Royal Sluis, Bruinsma Seeds, and Genecorp. In 1996, Romo sold the field crop business of Seminis to

Monsanto The Monsanto Company () was an American agrochemical and agricultural biotechnology corporation founded in 1901 and headquartered in Creve Coeur, Missouri. Monsanto's best known product is Roundup, a glyphosate-based herbicide, developed in th ...

for $240 million. In 1999, Savia took Seminis public, in which Savia retained control of the company. In September 2003, Savia took Seminis off the public markets for approximately $650 million via an investment of approximately $222 million from

Fox Paine & Company Fox Paine & Company is a private equity firm focused on leveraged buyout transactions. Fox Paine & Company, LLC was founded in 1996 by former Kohlberg Kravis Roberts partner Saul A. Fox. Former Kohlberg & Co. partner W. Dexter Paine III was bro ...

and additional cash and stock from Savia and related entities. On March 23, 2005, the

Monsanto Company The Monsanto Company () was an American agrochemical and agricultural biotechnology corporation founded in 1901 and headquartered in Creve Coeur, Missouri. Monsanto's best known product is Roundup (herbicide), Roundup, a glyphosate-based herbic ...

announced that it had completed its acquisition of Seminis. Monsanto paid $1 billion in cash and $400 million assumed debt, plus a performance-based payment of up to $125 million payable by 2007. In 2018,

acquired Monsanto and all of its seed brands, including Seminis.

References

External links

Corporate website

Agriculture companies of the United States Companies based in St. Louis American companies established in 1994 Monsanto {{food-company-stub