Page 53 - Biorefinery 2030

20 1 Unique, Multi-generational Development: A Lesson in Forward Planning

Sugar Research and Development (Sucre Recherche et De ´veloppement—SRD), an
economic interest group whose aim was to develop the agricultural resource by
making use of the whole plant. Already in 1984, Re ´gis de Baynast, who was at that
time the head of SRD, aiming to find the appropriate skills where he could, joined
forces with researchers in Toulouse. SDR bought a 10 % stake in the Toulouse-
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based firm BioEurope, founded by Jean-Bernard Borfiga and Pierre Monsan. The
collaboration between BioEurope and ARD was intense and fruitful, since it
enabled BioEurope to develop two key Soliance products, DHA and hyaluronan.
These two technologies were later transferred from BioEurope to ARD and
marketed by Soliance.
In 1987, following the work by SRD, the launch of cooperation between sugar
and cereal producers was confirmed with the production of ethanol fuel in a sugar
beet hydrolysis pilot unit based in Be ´theniville. The idea of a plant-based refinery
took form with the creation of Ethanol Recherche et De ´veloppement (ERD).
In 1989, the two research structures, SRD and ERD, finally merged to form a
single organisation: Agro-industrie Recherches et De ´veloppements (ARD).
Initially they were based at different locations in Compie `gne, Vauciennes and
Be ´theniville. It was not until 1992 that the whole organisation located to Pomacle.
Early days were difficult however, with partners backing down due to the economic
situation.
The first joint initiatives of the previous years led nonetheless to the creation of
the Centre for Analysis and Development of Agricultural Substrata (Centre d’Ana-
lyse et de Valorisation Industrielle des Substrats Agricoles—CAVISA). In 1990,
Serge Kochman, Deputy-Mayor of Reims, had proposed the creation of a monitor-
ing and research centre that would bring together researchers and industrialists from
different agricultural sectors. The result was CAVISA, organised with financial
partners and three sections: sugar beet, sugar and alcohol; cereals; and alfalfa.
Research projects proliferated thanks to local and national partnerships. In 1993,
for example, the cereals branch of CAVISA founded the Champagne-Ardenne
Association for the Development of Cereal By-products (Association pour la
valorisation des coproduits ce ´re ´aliers—ARDEVAL), with the support of the
Regional Chamber of Agriculture and with the encouragement of researchers in
Toulouse who were looking for industrial partners. This association obtained the
support of the Regional Council of Champagne-Ardenne.
In 1997, the history of CAVISA merged with that of ARD. The members of
ARD, unable to find enough players prepared to risk investing in research, decided
to broaden their search and look for partnerships with players in other sectors. Such
a partnership interested the cereal-producing members of CAVISA. They
transformed ARDEVAL into Ce ´re ´ales Recherche et De ´veloppement (CRD) before
joining ARD.

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SRD was a BioEurope shareholder along with Roussel-Uclaf, Cre ´dit Agricole, BNP, Suez and
Citybank. Following its creation, ARD took over SRD’s share in BioEurope, which in 1992
became the R&D subsidiary of the Parisian group Solabia.