The history of RAGT
Over a century dedicated to advancing agriculture.
A vision
The RAGT Group was founded in 1919 in Rodez, in southern France, in what is now the Occitanie region. Its name refers to its historical roots: Rouergue, Auvergne, Gévaudan, Tarnais.
Founded by visionary farmers, RAGT has remained true to its values while becoming an international player. Now present on 5 continents, the Group's head office remains in Rodez, a testament to its attachment to its home region.
RAGT is one of those companies that has stood the test of time, moving with agility not just to exist, but to serve a mission. It is a company that has been able to innovate while remaining true to its original values: that of supporting the agricultural sector in meeting its challenges and accompanying the development of its home region. This has been the case for over a century, and will continue to be the case for the next 100 years.
RAGT
over time
Integration of Groupe Deleplanque
RAGT acquired the Deleplanque Group, including Strube, leader in sugar beet, and Van Waveren, specialised in vegetable seeds.
Sugar beet became one of the RAGT Group's top 2 sales. The Group experienced unprecedented growth in its workforce, welcoming 400 new employees.
Expansion in Australia
The Seedforce subsidiary became RAGT Australia, and the Group acquired BASF's wheat assets, consolidating its presence in this strategic market.
Strengthening in South America and the Tarn region
RAGT Semences acquired Tobin SRL, an Argentinian company specialising in sorghum, maize and sunflower, while RAGT Plateau Central took over Bosc et Izarn, an agricultural merchant and forage seed producer based in the Tarn region.
Strategic agreement with Bayer and renewal with Sanders
A partnership was signed to develop hybrid wheat seeds for European markets.
RAGT also renewed its long-standing partnership with Sanders, to offer local, high-performance solutions to livestock farmers in the Occitanie region.
Deployment in the Pacific
RAGT stepped up its development in Oceania with the integration of Seed-Force New Zealand and Seed-Force Australia.
One hundred years of agricultural history and passion
The Group celebrated its centenary: 100 years of commitment to innovation, farmers and the regions.
Acquisition of Sérasem
RAGT strengthened its research capacity by integrating this InVivo plant breeding subsidiary.
Creation of RAGT Energie
RAGT Energie was created with the aim of developing and promoting the CALYS agropellet concept, a new fuel made from biomass.
Growth in field crops
RAGT Semences acquired Monsanto's cereals business (PBI). The Group becomes a key player in the soft wheat and malting barley markets.
Group structure
Faced with the expansion of its activities, the company structured itself through a holding company and subsidiaries based around RAGT Plateau Central and RAGT Semences. The RAGT Group was officially born.
A new headquarters for a new dimension
RAGT moved into a modern building in Rodez, symbolising its growing international influence and its attachment to its home town.
First international subsidiary
RAGT founded RAGT Saaten in Germany and Austria, its first sales subsidiary outside France. This was a major step in the Group's European development.
Heading for Europe
An agreement with the American company, Dekalb, marked RAGT's arrival on the European market, with the development of programmes for maize, sorghum and sunflower.
The beginnings of plant breeding
RAGT launched its first variety creation programmes for field crops. This was the starting point for the development of the seeds business.
Launch of animal feed
A partnership with the manufacturer, Sanders, gave rise to a new activity: the production of animal feed, which was to become an important area of expertise within RAGT.
Birth of the Cooperative
Faced with the growing professionalisation of agriculture, RAGT adapted: the cooperative became a limited company to meet its new economic challenges.
Birth of the Cooperative
On the initiative of Maurice Anglade, RAGT was founded to structure and support local agriculture after the First World War. Its first Chairman, Charles de Rodat, was himself a farmer in Druelle, near Rodez.
