Società Produttori Sementi is the oldest Italian Seed Company which focused from the beginning on breeding activity aimed at matching scientific research with the request of innovation coming from agro-industrial sector.

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PSB is engaged in research activity aimed at developing new methods, tools and new materials which are able to satisfy the requests from whole production chain, from farmer through processing industries up to final consumer. In order to get a real technological innovation, it is necessary to cooperate closely with production world to focus the research and breeding activity on genetic materials which are able to satisfy the production chain with top quality seeds in terms of technological quality and economic and environmental sustainability.
Thanks to the chain approach it is possible to provide specific information to the production sector and agro-food industries.

At present, PSB is engaged in the area of cereals (common and durum wheat) and forage crops (alfalfa). For Common Wheat, the aim is to obtain clearly characterized varieties as regards technological quality, in order to match the requirements of the processing industry. For Durum Wheat, the combined effort of PSB and Barilla allowed the development and wide-spread use of many varieties characterized by their higher quality and productivity compared to traditional Durum Wheat varieties. For Alfalfa, PSB focuses both on the breeding of new varieties and on the maintenance of registered varieties in order to satisfy the farmers, the market and the whole forage production chain.

Together with the Head Office, the Administrative Service and the Transfer of Innovation branch, PSB Centre in Argelato (near Bologna) includes the Research and Technological Innovation department and the seed processing plant.

Specific facilities for genetic research and breeding are available: phytotrons, vernalization chambers, laboratories equipped with the newest tools, and of course 44 hectares of fields dedicated to trials, maintenance of varieties and multiplication of breeder seed.

For the seed processing, PSB Production Department is provided with three plants, two for cereal seed and one for small seeds (especially alfalfa). Each plant has its own storage facility to assure seed quality preservation.