0
Home
News
Directory
E-newsletter
Magazine
Events
Data
AgReport
Subscribe
Gênica develops “vaccine” for Asian soybean rust in Brazil
Aug. 17, 2018
Follow
Brazil
By Leonardo Gottems, reporter for AgroPagesA new “vaccine” against Asian Rust on soybeans is under development in Brazil and will be launched in 2020. Rust is one of the major problems affecting the crop in the country. Created by the startup, Gênica Inovação Biotecnológica, from Piracicaba, state of São Paulo, the product activates determined genes of soybeans that protect the plant against the disease.
“But it is important to emphasize that the gene activation does not mean genetic modification. The soybeans will not become a GMO food,” explained Marcos Petean, CEO of Gênica.
According to him, the startup's proposal involves the farmer using natural pesticides allied to chemical products. “Biological control is a sector still under growth in Brazil and also in the world. We have observed an increase in the market size and consistency of the technology in the field.”
“Currently, big research institutions, such as Embrapa, have presented this form of control with good effectiveness and consistency in the field. When it is supported by institutions, the producer adheres to it with more tranquility. Several companies will enter this sector because the demand is growing,” added Petean.
Gênica received in 2018 a contribution of R$6 million from the venture capital investment manager, SP Venture. The executive director of the Brazilian Association of Biological Control Companies, Amália Pizentim Borsari, highlighted that “new technologies are appearing and so are new research lines. Besides, large companies that produce pesticides, and are involved in other areas, such as plant nutrition, are entering this market.”
Source: AgroNews
More from AgroNews
Change
Hot TopicSubscribe
| Subscribe Email: | * | |
| Name: | ||
| Mobile Number: | ||
Comment
0/1200
NEWSLETTER