The primary mission of GEVES's Variety Study Department is to carry out field and greenhouse tests for all cultivated plant species. These tests are used for:

• Registering a variety in the Official Catalogue of plant varieties
• Protecting a variety with a Plant Variety Right
• Varietal identification of commercial seed lots.

Three types of evaluations are carried out in accordance with EU regulations:

• DUS tests
• VCUS tests
• Variety Checking

Furthermore, the SEV carries out methodological testing, generally in collaboration with public or private research companies. This research aims to improve methods used to describe and evaluate varieties. The SEV also participates in the training of French and international experts.

The SEV’s 140 agents are spread over 5 main testing stations (350 hectares of testing surface, and 1 hectare of greenhouses). In addition, the SEV has a further 7 smaller units that are associated with INRA testing stations. The SEV management is based at GEVES’s headquarters in Beaucouzé, including the Secretary General of the CTPS.

• Anjouère SEV Unit
• Brion SEV Unit
• Cavaillon SEV Unit
• Le Magneraud SEV Unit
• Montpellier SEV Unit

See our testing station locations

The SEV is certified to ISO 9001 for VATE testing since 2009.

CPVO Entrustment : GEVES is entrusted by the CPVO for DUS testing across more than 300 botanical species.

• Find out more about GEVES's quality assurances