Germinal launches new Climate Smart products that support emissions reduction while protecting grass and forage production

Wednesday, 5^th February 2025 – Germinal – a pioneer in plant breeding and the development of innovative forage solutions – has launched five new ranges of Climate Smart forage products that will make it easier for farmers to select seed to reduce emissions and meet environmental targets while protecting grass and forage production.

Germinal has released five new Climate Smart seed ranges called CLEAN, THRIVE, ADAPT, CAPTURE and RESTORE.

Profitable grassland and forage production remain at their core, but these new science-based mixes contain innovative varieties that also deliver environmental benefits to help farmers meet Net Zero while building greater plant resilience against the effects of climate change.

Each product range brings its own unique benefits, from reducing emissions of greenhouse gases to lowering fertiliser usage and improving soil health and biodiversity, with crossover benefits between products.

Other seed mixtures within the Climate Smart range have been tailored to meet the requirements of government-supported environmental schemes, such as the Sustainable Farming Incentive (or SFI) Scheme in England.

The new products contain the latest plant breeding innovations from Germinal, including the top-performing Aber High Sugar Grasses varieties and the hybrid clover, DoubleRoot. These have been exclusively developed by The Institute of Biological and Rural Sciences (IBERS) and Germinal’s research and development division, Germinal Horizon, based at Aberystwyth University.

Future plant breeding innovations being developed as part of the groundbreaking NUE-Leg Project will be added to the Climate Smart range as they come to fruition.

These include the new grazing-resistant red clover RedRunner that provides the greater protein extraction of red clovers but with improved persistency, particularly under grazing conditions.

Germinal UK & Ireland Managing Director Paul Billings said: “In the next 40 years, the UN predicts that farmers must produce as much food as they have produced in the last 1,000 years. The role and importance of farmers in producing and securing food supplies is set to become even more critical. However, farming is also central to reducing emissions of greenhouse gases and addressing climate change.

“In the face of these challenges, how we farm will change. Climate Smart is about growing the right crops in the right places. These new mixes will make it easier for farmers to select the right seed mix for their specific needs so that farming and the food industry can meet rising food production challenges whilst lowering environmental impacts and adapt to changing weather patterns with improved crop resilience.

“Farmers have to protect their farms for future generations by changing today so they can remain profitable, produce food and reduce emissions. If you can tick all of those three boxes you are being climate smart.”

Ben Wixey, Agricultural Director, Germinal UK and Ireland, added: “Germinal is continually looking to the future to anticipate the challenges that lie ahead.

“Plant breeding already holds the key to unlocking the solutions farmers require and Germinal has many more exciting developments in our pipeline.”

Germinal’s new Climate Smart products will be available in grazing, silage/feed conservation and dual-purpose options.

Climate Smart Products will be available to farmers through agricultural retailers and resellers of Germinal products throughout Great Britain, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

For more information, go to Germinal.com

BOX: About the new seed categories:

• Climate Smart CLEAN –contains higher levels of soluble carbohydrates (sugar) scientifically proven to reduce ammonia and nitrous oxide by allowing animals to capture more protein. This also improves liveweight gains.
• Climate Smart THRIVE – contains grasses, herbs and clovers designed to support soil health, improve biodiversity and sustain growth.  
• Climate Smart ADAPT –comprises varieties with deeper roots and greater persistency that can survive harsher weather.
• Climate Smart CAPTURE –contains atmospheric nitrogen fixing clovers that require fewer nutrient inputs and provide environmental and livestock performance benefits.
• Climate Smart RESTORE –contains multispecies varieties designed for farmers participating in government-supported environmental schemes.

Celebrating 200 Years of Innovation

In 2025, Germinal and its parent group, Openfolde, celebrate 200 years of operations as a family-owned business. Its mission is to support farming and the amenity sector with innovative products that are developed with a passion for science, research, technical advice and the considerable time needed to bring high performing plant varieties to customers. 

Germinal is a market leader in developing and supplying seeds and climate smart seed mixtures in Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and New Zealand. Its R&D division – Germinal Horizon – develops plant varieties in collaboration with the Institute of Biological and Environmental Research Station (IBERS) at Aberystwyth University and at its field trial station in Wiltshire.

Germinal is also a lead partner in Project NUE-Leg, the UK government-funded multi-partner and multi-location project that seeks to maximise the nitrogen-fixing potential of legumes to reduce emissions in grassland farming, and reduce the need for bought-in nitrogen fertilisers. 

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

For media queries, please contact:

Jim Devlin
FTI Consulting Dublin
[email protected]
+353 (0) 87 2631057

OR

Orla Hayes
FTI Consulting Dublin
[email protected]
+353 (0) 87 9178264

OR

Anne-Louise Munroe
Germinal UK & Ireland
[email protected]
+44 (0) 7880 488060