Sandra Ortega’s Seed Business, Sementares, Doubles Turnover Despite Posting Losses
A relatively quiet venture within Sandra Ortega’s investment portfolio, Sementares, a company focused on the conservation and improvement of traditional Galician plant varieties, more than doubled its revenue in 2024, reaching over €310,000. However, the company also reported a net loss of €45,500, a shift from the profit of over €35,000 earned the previous year, according to information filed with the Commercial Registry and analyzed by Economía Digital Galicia through Insight View.
A Family Affair Rooted in Sustainability
Established in October 2021, Sementares represents one of Sandra Ortega’s lesser-known business interests, operating under her investment firm, Toad Corunna. Ortega shares joint administration of the company with Teresa Táboas, a Doctor of Architecture who previously served as Councilor for Living and Solo within the Xunta de Galicia government between 2005 and 2009. The company’s core activity centers on the “conservation, selection, cloning and multiplication of plants and seeds,” with a growing emphasis on sustainable agricultural practices.
Financial Snapshot: Growth and Red Ink
While Sementares experienced significant revenue growth in 2024, the company’s financial performance reveals a more complex picture. Despite the increase in sales, the firm recorded losses of €45,500, contrasting with profits of over €35,000 in the prior year. Total assets are valued at approximately €30,000, while the company’s net worth exceeds €284,000. In January 2023, Sementares increased its share capital from €100,000 to €300,000 through an additional investment of €200,000.
Strategic Shift and Alignment with the Paideia Foundation
In September 2024, Sementares relocated its registered office to Plaza de María Pita, number 17, in A Coruña – the same address as the Paideia Foundation. This foundation, dedicated to social work, was initiated by Ortega’s mother, Rosalía Mera, and is currently presided over by her. This move suggests a strategic alignment between Sementares and the broader philanthropic endeavors of the Ortega family. The company’s corporate purpose has also expanded beyond seed production to include “intermediation in the marketing of food and nutritional products,” as well as providing “agricultural technical advisory services” and “advertising and sales promotion services” within the agricultural sector.
Championing Galician Biodiversity
Sementares positions itself as a champion of Galician agricultural heritage. “Sementares is a seed producing company whose main objective is the conservation, selection and improvement of traditional Galician varieties,” a statement on the company’s website explains. “We seek to value the cultivation of local varieties that are more rustic and better adapted to the environment. We promote sustainable agricultural systems, supporting the local economy and promoting the production of quality food.”
A Diverse Catalog of Native Seeds
The company’s catalog boasts a wide array of native seeds and products, available through 34 retail locations across A Coruña and Pontevedra, as well as on Amazon. These include unique varieties such as the “Coella da Marina” cabbage from Foz, the Brigantium onion from Betanzos, and the “galaica” and “do marisco” bean varieties from Lourenzá. Other offerings include Ordes turnip green seeds, White pepper from O Rosal, and Avoa tomatoes from Osedo.
Beyond Seeds: Research and Technical Expertise
Sementares extends its services beyond seed sales, offering research and technical advice in areas such as fertilization, sowing, pest control, and quality control. The company also engages in “classical genetic improvement plans,” utilizing cross-breeding techniques to enhance the resilience of traditional varieties. According to the company, these crosses are repeatedly backcrossed with the original variety to retain 99% of its genetic makeup while incorporating desired resistance genes.