The FNPSMS laboratory was founded in 1952, responding to the obligation to certify seed produced in France.
The work done has gradually diversified and been extended to include analyses of both grain and silage maize, through GERM-Services, the commercial branch of AGPM and ARVALIS-Institut du Végétal.
As a subsidiary of ARVALIS-Institut du Végétal, GERM-Services is also involved in a number of research programmes.
Accreditation & Listing
All activities have been certified ISO 9001 (2000 version). The laboratory has accreditation from a number of official bodies in France: DRIRE (regional authority for industry, research & the environment), the Ministry of Industry, ONIOL (professional association of oilseed growers) and the Syndicat de Paris union.
The laboratory is also involved in the following circuits: BIPEA, IRTAC and SNES (the national seed testing centre).
MASTER LABORATORY M4 CIRCUIT
The laboratory organises a number of “circuits”, for seed company laboratories working on seed quality, and for private laboratories as part of the development of the M4 model for silage maize testing and analyses.
Activities
The laboratory specialises in maize and sorghum. Nearly 250 000 analyses are conducted every year by the 15 permanent members of staff and top-level units processing requests to analyse: - seed: germinative capacity, vigour test, varietal purity, GMO and dust test - grain: chemical components, GMO, health status, technological quality - feed/fodder: energy value and digestibility.
Laboratory clients include the full range of players in the maize sector (from breeding to initial processing). There is a large proportion of seed companies/producers, and aside from reasons of certification, this is because they need data on characteristics and behaviour of the varieties they have produced. Laboratory work is divided into four main fields: - seed - grain - animal feed - other services.
A CD-ROM presentation shows the full scope of activities conducted by the laboratory, and is available on request, by e-mailing the laboratory manager, Denis Hoffmann (denis.hoffmann@agpm.com).
The Laboratory
