GDM Buys AgReliant to Boost U.S. Presence

Sep 03, 2025
By Farms.com

The acquisition aims to enhance seed solutions for farmers across North America.

GDM, a global plant genetics company, has announced the successful completion of its acquisition of AgReliant Genetics. This strategic move is a significant step forward in GDM's plan to grow its presence in North America and improve its offerings to farmers. By combining the strengths of both companies, the acquisition is set to deliver more innovation, value, and choice to growers.

“Today marks a transformative moment in the history of our company and journey in the North American market,” said Ignacio Bartolomé, chief executive officer (CEO), GDM. “By welcoming AgReliant into the GDM family, we are creating a North American agricultural powerhouse poised to offer farmers an unmatched portfolio of high-performance seed solutions in soybeans and corn.”

The deal unites GDM's leadership in soybean genetics with AgReliant's strong position in corn breeding and genetics. This combination creates a powerful new entity in the North American agricultural landscape. As a result of this acquisition, GDM is now the global leader in soybean genetics and has become the fourth-largest provider of corn genetics worldwide.

The newly expanded business now includes AgReliant's well-known brands, such as AgriGold, LG Seeds, and PRIDE Seeds. It also incorporates one of the world's largest collections of temperate corn genetics and the fourth-largest corn research program in North America. This is in addition to GDM’s existing brands, including DONMARIO and Mustang.

Brian Barker, the former CEO of AgReliant, will lead the combined North American operations as GDM’s new North American President.

“Today marks a powerful step forward as we unite under a shared purpose – to be exceptional partners to our customers and advance agriculture in a way that consistently drives higher seed and yield performance,” said Barker. “Together, we are building a more powerful, innovative and integrated portfolio of seed solutions that creates more choice, more value and greater yield potential to North American growers.”

The partnership is focused on a shared goal of helping farmers achieve higher yields and better performance from their crops. The combined company aims to offer a more integrated and powerful portfolio of seed solutions that will benefit North American growers. This acquisition marks an important moment for GDM, solidifying its position and commitment to the future of global agriculture.

Video: Winter Canola Trial in Mississippi | Can It Work for Double Cropping? | Pioneer Agronomy

Can winter canola open new opportunities for growers in the Mid-South? In this agronomy update from Noxubee County, Mississippi, Pioneer agronomist Gus Eifling shares an early look at a first-year winter canola trial and what farmers are learning from the field.

Planted in late October on 30-inch rows, the crop is now entering the bloom stage and progressing quickly. In this video, we walk through current field conditions, fertility management, and how timing could make this crop a valuable option for double-cropping soybeans or cotton.

If harvest timing lines up with early May, growers may be able to transition directly into another crop during ideal planting windows. Ongoing field trials will help determine whether canola could become a viable rotational option for the region.

Watch for:

How winter canola is performing in its first season in this Mississippi field

Why growers chose 30-inch rows for this trial

What the crop looks like as it moves from bolting into bloom

Fertility strategy, including nitrogen and sulfur applications

How canola harvest timing could enable double-cropping with soybeans or cotton

Upcoming trials comparing soybeans after canola vs. traditional planting

As more growers look for ways to maximize acres and diversify rotations, experiments like this help determine what new crops might fit into existing systems.