HarvXtra alfalfa trait deregulated in Argentina

The forage industry’s first genetically enhanced, reduced-lignin alfalfa trait, known as HarvXtra® Alfalfa, developed to maximize quality by reducing the amount of lignin in the plant, has been deregulated by authorities in Argentina, making it the third country to deregulate the product following the United States and Canada.

HarvXtra® Alfalfa is the most advanced alfalfa trait in the industry, giving farmers flexibility. It does this by modifying the amount of lignin in the alfalfa plant beyond what is possible with conventional alfalfa breeding. This gives farmers the ability to maintain harvest for higher-quality forage or delay harvest to maximize yield potential without sacrificing quality.

This breakthrough technology was designed to ease the “yield-versus-quality” trade-off currently faced by alfalfa producers by improving forage quality over a longer period. This provides farmers with greater flexibility and a wider cutting window.

“The HarvXtra® Alfalfa trait brings something truly unique to the industry” said Shawn Barnett, president, Forage Genetics International (FGI). “While past and current efforts to improve the quality of alfalfa exist, this trait technology is the only advancement in alfalfa that truly moves the bar. We partnered with Bioceres, a leading Argentine provider of crop productivity solutions, to help deregulate the product and we are excited to bring it to Argentina.”

Owned by some of the largest farm operators and agro-industrial companies in Argentina, Bioceres partners with global technology leaders to develop, deregulate and bring to market high-impact agricultural inputs. “Alfalfa farmers in Argentina will finally have the possibility to enter into the biotech age.” said Federico Trucco, the group’s CEO.

Just as in the U.S., HarvXtra® Alfalfa will be sold in a trait stack with Roundup Ready® Technology. In addition to the improved quality and harvest flexibility benefits of HarvXtra® Alfalfa, Roundup Ready® Technology delivers unsurpassed weed control, which provides better stand establishment, excellent crop safety and easier crop management.

HarvXtra® Alfalfa with Roundup Ready® Technology will be offered to farmers in Argentina for planting in 2019.