Rhone-Poulenc Agrochimie : An Uncertain Future

Abstract

Compared with other world agrochemical leaders, Rhone-Poulenc Agro (RPA) was characterized by a focus on its core business: crop protection. In order to reinforce its research capabilities while focusing on its core competencies, RPA developed numerous strategic alliances, like its alliance with Genoplante, the French public/private platform in plant genomics. However, the merger with AgrEvo which created Aventis CropScience, and the announced divestment by its mother company Aventis, has since increased the uncertainty of many key industrial and research and development (R&D) projects that it was formerly engaged in.