Limagrain Field Seeds is moving variety trials beyond small plots and into working farms, launching a UK-wide network of farmer-led demonstration sites.
The goal is to give growers a clearer view of how varieties perform under commercial conditions, says the seed breeder. Instead of relying solely on tightly controlled trial plots, the network will test crops in real farming systems.
The network approach reflects a broader shift in crop evaluation. As input costs rise and margins tighten, growers are placing more weight on crop resilience, consistency and system fit – not just headline yields.
For Limagrain, that means demonstrating performance where it matters: in the field. Field-scale trials will be shaped by soil type, crop rotation and input strategy – rather than laboratory conditions, it says.
Farmer lens
Nicolle Hamilton, marketing director at Limagrain, says the shift reflects what farmers are asking for. “We want to offer growers a more meaningful way of looking at our varieties – through a farmer lens,” she explains. “That means taking them out of controlled conditions and putting them into real farming systems, managed by farmers making commercial decisions every day.”
Formal trials, including the AHDB Recommended List, will remain important benchmarks, says Limagrain. But the seed breeder argues that they do not always capture how crops perform on farm.
“This is not about replacing trials—it’s about adding another layer,” says Ms Hamilton. “Farmers want to know how varieties establish, how they cope with different soils and how they perform under lower inputs or after cover crops. That is where this approach adds value.”
The network is designed to answer those questions. Crops will be grown at field scale, under commercial pressures, rather than in small, uniform plots with a focus on understanding fit rather than finding a single top performer.
“This is about genuine collaboration,” says Limagrain cereals product manager Heather Oldfield. “There is no perfect variety. Success comes from putting the right variety in the right place.”
The first two demonstration farms are based in Suffolk and Staffordshire. Together, they reflect a range of soils, systems and management approaches.
At Dennington Hall Farms in Suffolk, Ryan McCormack runs an integrated system combining arable, livestock and environmental management. The farm operates a 12-year rotation and places a strong emphasis on soil health.
“I’m farming for margin, but also for my soils,” says Mr McCormack. “That means I need varieties that can cope with reduced tillage, cover crops and lower inputs. The only way to understand that is to test them in those conditions.”
His trials compare multiple varieties under different establishment systems within the same field, allowing direct comparison of how genetics respond to management.
Pressure testing
In Staffordshire, Rob Atkin farms across a wide range of soil types, from heavy clay to high-organic-matter silt. His mixed enterprise includes combinable crops alongside beef and sheep.
“I still need yield to pay the bills,” he says. “But I want varieties that work on farm, not just in perfect plots. I want to know how they perform under pressure.”
For Mr Atkin, the value lies in the practical insight. “It’s about seeing what works, what doesn’t and why—that’s far more useful than just looking at figures.”
The network will expand over time, with Limagrain planning to add more sites and share results through open days and seasonal updates.