In January 2025, HelEx took part in a SEMAE technical meeting, bringing together actors from the French seed sector to discuss the agronomic and ecological performance of pollinator-dependent crops. SEMAE is the French interprofessional organisation for seeds and plants, with a coordinating role between breeders, producers and public authorities.
Stan Chabert (INRAE) presented HelEx insights on nectar secretion in sunflower and oilseed rape and on how these floral resources shape pollinator behaviour. The talk provided the seed sector with scientific elements to inform variety selection, trial protocols and communication with beekeepers.
This kind of interaction with SEMAE is strategically important for HelEx because it connects the project’s science with the formal structures that govern the seed sector in France, ensuring that results can feed into professional standards and guidelines.
