SIS Introduces chemical-free rice seed treatment with ThermoSeed®
Project Overview
Ventilex supplied a custom-engineered ThermoSeed® installation to Società Italiana Sementi (SIS), one of Italy’s leading seed companies, to introduce chemical-free rice seed treatment to the Italian market.
Developed in partnership with Lantmännen BioAgri, the installation uses hot, humid air instead of chemical treatments to control seed-borne diseases and nematodes while maintaining excellent germination performance. Located near Bologna, the new facility processes approximately 11 tonnes of rice seed per hour and supports sustainable rice production in Europe’s largest rice-producing country.
The challenge
As demand for sustainable agriculture continues to grow, seed producers are looking for effective alternatives to conventional chemical seed treatments.
SIS required a reliable, industrial-scale solution capable of:
- Controlling seed-borne diseases and nematodes
- Maintaining high seed quality and germination
- Eliminating the need for chemical seed treatments
- Supporting sustainable rice production
- Processing large production volumes efficiently
The Ventilex solution
Ventilex designed and supplied a custom ThermoSeed® processing installation for the SIS production facility.
As manufacturing partner for ThermoSeed technology, Ventilex engineered the fluid bed conditioning system to deliver precise temperature and humidity control throughout the treatment process. The installation is designed to process approximately 11 tonnes of rice seed per hour using only hot, humid air, without chemical inputs.
The solution combines high processing capacity with reliable, repeatable treatment performance for industrial seed production.
Results
The new rice seed treatment system enables SIS to introduce an innovative and sustainable seed treatment solution to the Italian market.
Key project results include:
- Chemical-free seed treatment using thermal technology
- Effective control of seed-borne diseases and nematodes
- High seed quality and reliable germination performance
- Industrial processing capacity of approximately 11 t/h
- Support for sustainable rice production
- Reduced environmental impact compared with conventional chemical treatments
The installation strengthens SIS’s position as an innovator in sustainable seed technology while helping growers produce healthier crops with fewer chemical inputs.
Customer success
The new ThermoSeed® installation represents an important milestone in bringing sustainable seed treatment technology to Italy. By combining Lantmännen BioAgri’s proven treatment process with Ventilex’s expertise in thermal processing equipment, the project enables large-scale production of high-quality treated rice seed for the Italian market.
Looking ahead
With Italy accounting for around half of Europe’s paddy rice production, the new ThermoSeed® installation provides SIS with a future-ready solution that supports both sustainable agriculture and long-term seed quality. The project demonstrates how innovative thermal processing technology can help replace chemical treatments while maintaining high operational performance.