KWS Momont

KWS Momont is a French seed company and plant breeder based in Mons-en-Pévèle in the Nord department of northern France. It specialises in three flagship crops: rapeseed (colza), sorghum (both forage and grain types) and fodder beet (betterave fourragère). The business traces its origins to 1860, when Louis Dubocquet founded a small beet-seed enterprise in the Pévèle area, selling seeds within a radius of about 100 kilometres by horse-drawn cart. Through marriage and succession the company became Momont-Dubocquet et sœur in 1887, then SA Adrien Momont-Hennette et fils in 1920, and SARL Adrien Momont et fils in 1950, when the fourth generation launched a varietal selection programme and the firm became an official plant breeder in 1951. Over the following decades Momont built its reputation on beet genetics, notably adopting genetic monogerm sugar beet from 1966 and forming a decisive partnership with the Swedish seed house Hilleshög to distribute its varieties exclusively in France. The company later diversified into rapeseed and sorghum, and today presents itself as a breeder-selector of rapeseed, sorghum and fodder beet, with research and development focused on productivity, quality and sustainability for large-scale arable farms. Momont is now part of the German KWS Group, one of the world's leading plant-breeding companies, and operates under the KWS Momont name. Its product range includes winter rapeseed varieties, fodder beet varieties for livestock feed, forage sorghum for livestock and biogas (methanisation) producers, and grain sorghum selected for productivity and stress resistance. The company markets its varieties primarily to French farmers and emphasises close technical support, seed production close to growers, and a long family heritage spanning five generations. Headquartered in Mons-en-Pévèle, KWS Momont combines a historic northern French identity with the research resources of an international seed group. Its communication stresses innovation rooted in tradition, with concrete agronomic actions aimed at optimising yields, supporting different production systems and preparing the future of agriculture.

The history of KWS Momont begins in 1860, when Louis Dubocquet founded a small company specialising in beet seeds in the Pévèle, a fertile area of northern France. At that time he used a horse-drawn cart to sell his seeds within a radius of about 100 kilometres, establishing a tradition of field proximity that would remain a hallmark of the house. In 1887, Léon Momont married Appoline Dubocquet and took over the business, which became known as Momont-Dubocquet et sœur. In 1920, their son Adrien Momont succeeded him and gave his name to SA Adrien Momont-Hennette et fils; Adrien travelled the region by train and then by bicycle to stay close to farmers. The post-war period marked a turning point. In 1950, the fourth generation — Léon, Adrien and Michel — developed a varietal selection activity, giving birth to SARL Adrien Momont et fils, which established a research programme and became an official plant breeder in 1951. From then on the company developed its own varieties of sugar beet, fodder beet and wheat. In 1966, Momont made a major strategic bet on genetic monogerm sugar beet. This choice led to a decisive partnership with the Swedish seed company Hilleshög, allowing Momont to distribute Hilleshög varieties exclusively on the French market. The success of this collaboration strengthened the company's position in beet seed. Over the following decades Momont broadened its portfolio beyond beet. It became active in rapeseed and sorghum, and its research and development efforts increasingly targeted the needs of large-scale arable farms, with an emphasis on productivity, quality and sustainability. The company remained family-run for five generations and retained its base in Mons-en-Pévèle in the Nord department. At some point the business was acquired by the German plant-breeding group KWS SAAT SE & Co. KGaA, one of the world's leading seed companies, and it now operates under the KWS Momont name. As part of the KWS Group, KWS Momont combines its historic northern French identity and local technical support with the research resources of an international breeder. Its current communication presents it as a breeder-selector of rapeseed, sorghum and fodder beet, with innovation described as rooted in tradition and aimed at optimising yields, supporting different production systems and preparing the future of agriculture.

• 1966

  Momont bets on genetic monogerm sugar beet and forms a partnership with Swedish seed house Hilleshög for exclusive French distribution.

• 1951

  The company becomes an official plant breeder.

• 1950

  Fourth generation (Léon, Adrien, Michel) launches varietal selection; SARL Adrien Momont et fils is created.

• 1920

  Adrien Momont succeeds and gives his name to SA Adrien Momont-Hennette et fils.

• 1887

  Léon Momont marries Appoline Dubocquet and takes over the business, renamed Momont-Dubocquet et sœur.

• 1860

  Louis Dubocquet founds a small beet-seed company in the Pévèle, northern France.

Historic French family seed house turned KWS Group subsidiary, positioned as a breeder-selector of rapeseed, sorghum and fodder beet with strong field-level technical support.

• Winter rapeseed varieties

  Rapeseed varieties combining performance, regularity and robustness for arable rotations.

• Fodder beet varieties

  Fodder beet selected for yield and quality to optimise livestock feed.

• Forage sorghum

  Forage sorghum combining harvest flexibility and high forage yield, suited to livestock farmers and biogas producers.

• Grain sorghum

  Grain sorghum selected for productivity and stress resistance.

1. 1Momont | Semencier colza, sorgho, betterave fourragère MOMONTmomont.com
2. 2MOMONT | Notre histoire de semencier depuis plus de 160 ans MOMONTmomont.com
3. 3KWS Momont (France) - Wikidatawikidata.org