Vegetable seed specialist Bejo was present at Fruit Logistica. Among the innovations showcased at the event were the Samantha, the pointed Milan cabbage (nominated for a FLIA award), and the B-Mox seed improvement technology available on the French market for carrot and onion growers.
Séverine Moreau and Yannick Chevray, marketing and sales managers of Bejo France at Fruit Logistica 2025 / © FreshPlaza
B-Mox technology for advanced pregermination
Bejo has recently developed B-Mox. This seed improvement technology (also in organic production) is designed to make seedlings more vigorous and stimulate growth at the earliest possible stage. While the pre-sprouting process is not new, Bejo has improved on it. "Pre-sprouting allows seedlings to emerge more uniformly. It is a process that is used a lot with species that compete strongly with weeds, and it saves 2 to 3 days in emergence," explains Séverine Moreau. To this classic pregermination process, Bejo has added "a specific formulation, including biostimulants, to produce stronger seedlings capable of combating various pathogens," explains Yannick Chevray.
Stage 1: germination is triggered by a combination of time, temperature, and humidity. Stage 2: when the embryo approaches the seed coat, the process is stopped. Stage 3: the seed is then dried again / Bejo
A solution developed for "stressful growing conditions"
"We have been able to observe the results of using B-Mox in stressful conditions in Northern Europe (Denmark, Sweden, and Norway) and we have seen, particularly in onions, a very rapid substitution of the standard product for B-Mox. Feedback from the field has been very positive, and growers who have tried it for a season have adopted it," according to Yannick Chevray. Although it is difficult "to put precise figures on stressful conditions," the various trials conducted by Bejo in several regions of Europe have shown a 15% increase in yield.
Onion root system: B-Mox vs. non-pregerminated / Bejo
A technology soon to be available for other species
While B-Mox has been available for onions (for 1 year), carrots (for 4 years), and even rooted parsley (very popular in Eastern Europe), it should soon be extended to other species. "Tests are underway on other products, but we must not lose sight of the primary objective, which is to bring something more and target the species that really need it. The idea is not to offer more than what production needs," explains Yannick Chevray.
Changes to the way the supply chain works
B-Mox is also changing things from an organizational point of view. "This technology raises major logistical constraints for the seed company because we have to be able to apply the formulation, carry out pregermination and store the product under very specific conditions (temperature and shelf life), which totally changes the way the supply chain works."
© FreshPlaza
Focus on one of the stars of Fruit Logistica 2025: the Samantha pointed cabbage
Shortlisted for the Fruit Logistica Innovation Awards, the pointed Milan cabbage known as Samantha was in the spotlight. Bejo's aim behind this innovation is to "revitalize the cabbage segment, which is not very attractive to the younger generation and has been somewhat neglected by research." The strength of the Samantha lies in its slightly sweet taste, its nutrients, its long shelf life, as well as its compact size. Small size means less waste and a perfect fit with the growing trend towards smaller, easier-to-eat portions."
Samantha / © Bejo
Launched on the French market this year, the Samantha will be on display in Angers in a temporary shop alongside Orion, the tearless onion, another Bejo innovation launched in 2023. "The aim will be to get consumer feedback on the product because the innovation was designed first and foremost for consumers."
For more information:
Yannick Chevray
Bejo France
« Beauchêne »
49250 Beaufort en Vallée
Phone: +33 (0)2 41 57 64 75
Mobile: +33 (0)6 07 95 44 95
[email protected]
www.bejo.fr
