Lantmännen is an agricultural cooperative and Northern Europe’s leader in agriculture, machinery, bioenergy and food products.
Lantmännen BioAgri brings ThermoSeed® to the Italian rice market
Lantmännen BioAgri has entered a long-term partnership with Società Italiana Sementi (SIS), to introduce ThermoSeed® to the Italian rice seed market. The collaboration brings a proven, chemical-free seed treatment technology to Europe’s largest rice-producing country, supporting healthier seeds and more sustainable rice production.
Società Italiana Sementi (SIS) is a major seed company in Italy controlled by the leading Italian agro-industrial Group BF S.p.A. Through the partnership SIS will offer ThermoSeed-treated rice seeds to Italian farmers, addressing key challenges such as seed-borne nematodes and fungal diseases while ensuring strong germination and crop performance. Half of the European paddy rice production (around 1,4 million tons) takes place in Italy, making it Europe’s largest rice market both in production and in value-added segments.
“Entering the Italian market in partnership with SIS is an important milestone for us. This expansion shows that ThermoSeed’s combination of innovation and proven reliability fits really well into a market where long‑term, sustainable solutions are needed”, says Frida Dalemar, Managing Director at Lantmännen BioAgri.
The new ThermoSeed line, located near Bologna, will serve all major rice-growing regions in the country. Built by the Dutch engineering company Ventilex, the installation can treat approximately 11 tons of rice seed per hour using only hot, humid air – without chemical inputs.
Over the past three years, ThermoSeed® has demonstrated reliable control of white tip disease in rice, caused by the plant pathogenic nematode Aphelenchoides besseyi, establishing itself as the only effective treatment against nematodes currently available on the market. The effectiveness of the treatment has earned the trust of seed producers and, as a result, increased the demand for ThermoSeed‑treated seeds. This growing demand has driven the decision to invest in a new ThermoSeed unit in Italy.
Since its launch in Sweden in 2005, ThermoSeed® has become a trusted large-scale solution across Europe. By combining enhanced seed health with reduced environmental impact, the technology supports both farmer profitability and more sustainable agriculture.
*photo credits Manuel Bressan