Argentina: How many soybean varieties were registered this year and who did it

According to the Seed National Institute, since January 1, soybean breeding companies registered 24 new soybean varieties, versus 42 in 2018 and 21 in 2017. The soybean seed market is dominated by domestic companies, instead of the global ones, which are focused on the hybrids in the domestic market.

As has been happening in recent years, Grupo Don Mario (GDM Seeds) headed the list of the breeders. This year they register seven varieties, from Group Maturity III to VII. Nidera Seeds occupied the second place with four new varieties, while Cooperativa Santa Rosa occupied the third place with three new materials. Meanwhile, Bioceres Semillas and Sursem (property of Limagrain) registered two varieties each one, while the INTA (Agriculture Research National Institute) and the ACA (Argentine Cooperatives Association) registered just one each one.

It is remarkable that seven of the 24 varieties contain the STS technology, that confers the crop with sulphonylurea herbicide-resistance. It is the same quantity that varieties containing IPRO technology by former Monsanto. But the most popular technology continues being RR1 or glyphosate resistance, a technology from the ’90, currently patent-free.

But the surprise of this year was the appearance of the US company Schillinger Genetics, wich register three non-GMO materials. This company was acquired by gene-editing giant Benson Hill Bio, with the goal to develop superior varieties for human consumption. Another non-GMO cultivar was registered by Bullmark, a small company based in the Buenos Aires province, but also linked to Schillinger Genetics.