FRENCH SEEDS R&D

The proposed operation is to fund the promoter's Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) activities related to the creation, development, registration and commercialisation of new field crop and vegetable seed varieties for their use in agriculture.

The RDI investment underpins the promoter's strategy to increase competitiveness in its various businesses, through the production of high performance seeds (field crops and vegetables) that will notably increase yields, resist to pathogens, pest or climate adverse conditions (drought, etc.) as well as improving research technics.

Compliance with the environmental "acquis" (notably the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) directive 2014/52/EU amending the EIA Directive 2011/92/EU) will be assessed during the appraisal.

The promoter has been assessed by the EIB as a private company not subject to EU rules on public procurement or concessions. However, if after the project appraisal, the EIB were to conclude that the promoter is after all subject to the EU public procurement legislation Directive 2014/24/EU, then the Bank would require the promoter to ensure that contracts for the implementation of the project will be tendered in accordance with the relevant applicable EU procurement legislation Directive 2014/24/EU, where applicable, as well as Directive 89/665/EEC as interpreted by the Court of Justice of the European Union, with the publication of tender notices in the Official Journal of the European Union, as and where required.