AgroPages-Rizobacter and UNNOBA to initiate innovation project of seed treatments technologies in Argentina-Agricultural news

Rizobacter, leading agrochemical and biological company in Argentina, recently plan to initiate innovation project of seed treatments technologies with UNNOBA (National University of Northwestern Buenos Aires) in Argentina.

The project presents an innovative solution: to encapsulate bio-inputs and chemical molecules with the aim of achieving more appropriate seed treatments, and thus having a direct positive impact on the procedures and agronomical results.

It requires a millionaire investment and it will be subsidized by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Productive Innovation of Argentina.Nowadays, treatments are carried out, in many cases, with different chemical and biological products under conditions that do not ensure an adequate distribution of the active ingredients over the seed, with the consequent detrimental effect on the implantation and productivity of different crops and a high probability of undesirable impacts on the operators and the environment.

The Project will be carried out by four investigation groups coordinated by professionals from Rizobacter, in mixed integration with students of UNNOBA, and subsidized through the “Regional Technological Innovation Funds, Agribusiness sector”. The objective is to develop and evaluate the encapsulation of bio-inputs and chemical molecules.

The former, which include bio-fertilizers, bio-fungicides and bio-insecticides, will allow the development of products with greater bacterial survival and stress reduction by drying. The elimination of direct contact between microorganisms and pesticides, will increase their survival before abiotic stress conditions on the seed and the soil, and will improve the agronomical impact intended with their use.

As regards encapsulation with different chemical molecules, it will be made possible to eliminate some formulation components (antimicrobial substances) and, in some cases, regulate the availability of these active ingredients, generating a series of products of high technology and agronomical impact, which will improve the speed of implantation and the emergence of crops, as well as their productive potential.

In order to obtain the expected results, the bio-encapsulated products of micro-organisms and agrochemicals will have to integrate with an application technology which assures their adequate dosage, adherence and stability over time, and which allows a proper balance between seeds, pesticides and microorganisms. This acquired understanding will achieve a more suitable and professional treatment of seeds.

“In the light of these problems, the micro and macro-encapsulation of bio-inputs and agrochemical agents of seed application will bring a series of advantages: improve the distribution of these compounds over the main surface; increase compatibility between chemical and biological agents; increase the time period between treatments and sowing; maximize the benefits of the products used on the productivity of the crops; eliminate risks to operators and significantly reduce the negative impact on the environment. In addition, these technologies allow and improve the quality controls of inputs, processes and logistics, assuring the genetics, the characteristics, the vigor and the nutrition of the seeds treated, to achieve the improvements in germination and the growth and development of the plants”, explains the engineer Gustavo González Anta, director of the project and Director of Research and Development in Rizobacter.