Saturday, 13 September 2025
Seed Specialist Celebrates 200 Years of Innovation and Growth in Belfast Openfolde, the sixth-generation family business and parent company of Germinal, marked its 200th anniversary with a special event in Belfast, celebrating two centuries of innovation, resilience, and leadership in seed technology and sustainable agriculture. Founded in 1825 by Samuel McCausland as a general merchant […]
Openfolde, the sixth-generation family business and parent company of Germinal, marked its 200th anniversary with a special event in Belfast, celebrating two centuries of innovation, resilience, and leadership in seed technology and sustainable agriculture.
Founded in 1825 by Samuel McCausland as a general merchant business trading through Belfast Port, Openfolde has evolved into a global group developing and supplying advanced forage seed technologies and environmental solutions across the UK, Ireland, and international markets.
Seed technology is a foundational lever in the fight against climate change, biodiversity loss, and global food insecurity. By developing climate-resilient forage crops, Openfolde directly supports:
Reduced dependence on synthetic inputs (like fertilisers and pesticides),
Improved soil health and carbon sequestration,
More efficient livestock production with lower methane emissions,
Resilience to extreme weather events, including drought and flooding.
As agriculture seeks to feed a growing population while cutting emissions, adapted and region-specific seed genetics become essential tools for sustainable transformation. Openfolde’s R&D-driven approach positions it as a key player in that transformation.
Originally operating as Germinal Holdings and based in Banbridge until 2020, the company rebranded as Openfolde in 2023, consolidating its growing business portfolio under a unified identity. The rebrand reflects both its deep historical roots and its forward-facing commitment to sustainable innovation.
Today, Openfolde includes:
Germinal UK & Ireland – its core seed business
Germinal Horizon – its dedicated research and development division
Ecommerce brands The Grass People and Lawnsmith.com
A 50% stake in Cates, a seed and grain business based in New Zealand
The company’s global head office recently returned to Belfast, reinforcing its commitment to Northern Ireland.
The business remains family-run, with William Gilbert, a direct descendant of McCausland, serving as managing director of Openfolde and chairman of Germinal, and John Gilbert as chairman of Openfolde Group.
‘Marking 200 years is a rare achievement,’ said William Gilbert. ‘This celebration is about recognising the people who have driven our success — our entire team and all the stakeholders who have supported us over the years. Innovation, collaboration, and long-term thinking are what have sustained us and will continue to define Openfolde.’
John Gilbert added, ‘From a Belfast merchant business to a global innovator, we have remained focused on practical, science-led progress. At the heart of Openfolde and Germinal is a belief in supporting farmers and land managers to thrive — not just for today but for generations to come.’
As part of its anniversary year, Openfolde launched its Climate Smart product range in February 2025 through Germinal. This major innovation offers forage seed products designed to support climate-resilient, sustainable agriculture without compromising productivity or profitability.
Much of this innovation is driven by Germinal Horizon, Openfolde’s R&D division, based at the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) at Aberystwyth University, with field research also conducted in Wiltshire and New Zealand.
The 200th anniversary is being marked with a series of milestone events, including:
A partner and stakeholder reception in Edinburgh this autumn
A Chairman’s Dinner in December at the Malmaison Hotel in Belfast, the very site where the business was founded in 1825
After 200 years of continuous evolution, Openfolde remains firmly committed to advancing sustainable farming practices through science, innovation, and collaboration. Its long-standing legacy is not just one of business success, but of meaningful contribution to global agriculture and environmental stewardship.
The Germinal Horizon division exemplifies how agri-businesses can close the gap between academic research and practical, on-farm application. Its work with IBERS at Aberystwyth University enables:
Faster development of next-generation seed cultivars,
On-farm trials and knowledge transfer to producers,
Data-driven validation of climate mitigation outcomes.
This integrated model accelerates the adoption of sustainable practices by making them profitable and scalable—especially important for time-pressed farmers balancing environmental and economic pressures.
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