In 1952 Carlo Bertone, set up the company Bertone Sementi in Casale Monferrato (Alessandria). His perspicacity allowed him to understand that all future growths of the agriculture would be supported by an increasing demand of quality seeds, and by a strong wish to get , and to test new varieties. Formerly the company produced only soft wheat and barley seeds ,using a voluntary service of certification when it was not required by any law.

At the beginning of the 60’s Bertone sementi began the production of the rice (paddy) seeds . It was the rice seed that ,thanks to a fast commercial success, characterized this company up to became in the 90’s the main Italian producer. The constant increase of the sales encouraged the owner to build a new and modern factory that was inaugurated in 1986 at Terruggia , village a few miles from Casale Monferrato / Italy.

This plant has:

• a covered surface of 6000 metres,
• silos with a capacity of 3000 tons,
• 3 processing lines for seeds with a total output of 8 tons per hour,
• systems for chemical treatment and packing,
• a line to mill the residual products coming from the rice seeds production,
• a dryer for rice and corn,
• a greenhouse,
• a growing chamber

In 2022 Bertone Sementi has produced and certified more than 12000 tons of different seeds . The 40% of the seeds are exported in the E.C. and outside (France, Portugal, Spain, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Macedonia, Morocco, Turkey). The research activity is concentrated in creating new varieties of rice and soft wheat . The breeding work is carried out in a private farm and by personal with a deep knowledge of the systems of the genetic improvement . The testing of the chosen material is made on great blocks in many areas of the country and in other European countries to appreciate its characteristics in different conditions of soil and climate.

Thanks to the collaboration and exchange of genetic resources with important public and private research stations Bertone Sementi is developing a continuous activity of varietal experimentation and comparison. More specifically Bertone Sementi and IVS Ista are working together using new methodologies as crosses assisted by molecular markers to introduce in old and new varieties the character of resistance to the principal rice disease (Rice Blast) and tilling to control the vegetative cycle and the height of the plant.

The high quality of the seeds is combined with a complete and efficient customer service through a program based on:

• technical assistance providing the introduction of the new varieties and helping the farmers during the production cycle,
• visits to demonstration fields,
• updating courses concerning the new technologies.

The consolidate experience, the continuous innovation in the manufacturing process, the increasing care in the genetic improvement will permit Bertone Sementi to keep on following the changes of the market without altering the mutual trust that has been established during almost 50 years of serious work with the agricultural world.