Argentina: seed companies see bright future after ag expo

Seed companies have used Expoagro, one of the major agricultural fairs in Argentina, to show their new products and portfolio in a scenario of more optimism in the sector. Juan Farinati, president of Monsanto Argentina, commemorated the climate of the fair in a press conference.

"The reality is that the opportunity is spectacular. We saw producers with an excellent mood and expectation to produce more and better in the future. Clearly, the agricultural business is a very important sector in Argentina, and seeing producers with so much optimism, with willingness to invest, is something that fulfills us of hope and strengthens our commitment in this country.”

Monsanto has shown the Dekalb corn through the Hybrid Recommender, along with soybeans Intacta RR2 Pro, but the company's highlight in the fair was the Roundup Ready Xtend, a new crop system and new variety that is not available in the market yet. Monsanto promises that the system will increase soybean yields and will allow an efficient control and would allow to manage efficiently to control broadleaf weeds that are resistant to glyphosate.

"We are very committed with Argentina, with soybean crop, with corn and with farmers. We consider that we have a lot of tools in our palette of products that is not only Xtend. In three years, we are going to launch a platform that has dicamba, RR2 and three events to control Lepdotera. We are being very positive. We continue to advance in a transformation process in which refers to the commercialization of the technology in Argentina, but we are very optimistic with Intacta”.

Rizobacter and an improved inoculant

In a professional seed treatment, Rizobacter was launched in its improved inoculant long life version. This came after a request from Rizobacter's partner, Syngenta, with whom the booth was shared at Expoagro. “In the old times, the traditional inoculants had a period of innoculation very limited that could go from the same day of planting to seven days, and today we are offering this inoculant with a time of 70 days,” compares Matías Gorski, Microbiological Products Head at Rizobacter.

Rizobacter also highlights about its improved version that “its capacity to concentrate is the same, but in a much smaller volume of application, about 50% less than what sprayed at the same seed”.

"The distribution and the bleed improved a lot within the seeder and this reduction of the broth application allows that the final broth can add other additives. We are very strong with fungicides, which is widely diffused: over 90% of the treatments include its fungicide, coming down from North with a lot bigger plague pressure,” he adds;

Currently, the professional seed treatment occupies between 8% and 10% of the overall treatment, according to Gorski. It would be a fundamental a sanction of a seed law to increase its share. “We are having a mid-term projection that can cover in 12, 15 or 20%, until in the future reaching 40% of what the feeder with professional seed treatment,” he explains.

Nidera, a pioneer in soybeans

Nidera has introduced all of its genetic potency of its seeds and the latest technologies in nutrition and crop protection. One of the most highlighted launches at the fair was the hybrid corn AX 7822, which has demonstrated higher yields in the field and it is offer with all other technologies for weed control and crop protection.

About the other technologies for soybeans, the Global Research director of Nidera, Rodolfo Rossi, cited the insect resistance, resistance to nematode, diseases, yields increase, higher content of oil and greater efficiency for forage. Among the advanced developments, the forecast launch within two to five years, there are the tolerance to herbicides (dicamba, modo múltiple, HPPD, DHT: 2,4-D + glufosinato, GlyTol + HPPD + LL, imidazolinona, resistance to insects (second generation Intacta RR2 PRO), yield increase, Omega 3 increase (Soymega SDA) and the low content of saturated fatty acids – zero trans fat – (Vistive Gold).

Don Mario, official supporter of Expoagro, will have a wide spectrum. “The seedbed will have a focus at the launch of the soybean varieties Ipro: DM53i53, which contributes to the yield potential and stability for the zones of Entre Ríos, center of Córdoba and Santa Fe, and the DM61i61, which is also STS, for the weed control. In RR1, the new is the DM40R16 STS and DM62R63 STS. For wheat, the two complementary varieties of maximum yield short-cycle and quality, shaft and kapok. And for intermediary cycle, the new is Algarrobo, On Corn, DM2738MGRR2 and DM2771VT3PRO, two highly competitive hybrids”, assured.