UPL launches digital platform to assist soy producers in Brazil

UPL launched the “Cultiv-e” platform, a new way of interacting with its customers and sharing knowledge and content about good practices in managing the soybean disease complex, such as Asian rust, target spot, Cercospora, Septoria and powdery mildew, which threaten the productivity of the country's most important culture. The platform will be offered free of charge to farmers, resellers and company employees on an exclusive portal.

“UPL is an OpenAg company, which is one that is open to innovation and modern agriculture. Therefore, our proposal is to add value to the food production chain through a digital learning journey, which offers the characteristics and benefits of our solutions to the management of diseases affecting soybeans, thus, enabling farmers to maintain high levels of productivity, ” said Fernando Arantes (UPL Brasil Fungicide Manager).

According to Arantes, knowing, in depth, the problems and solutions available for the adequate preventive management of diseases is increasingly important, considering the fact that many fungi become resistant to certain chemical groups, causing losses that could be over R$150 billion ($26 billion) in terms of just rust, one of the main issues affecting soy, alongside anthracnose and target spot, which is equally worrying for farmers.

“This new digital platform is part of UPL's global strategy to contribute with innovative and sustainable solutions to food production, an increasing requirement not only in Brazil but also worldwide. Distance learning, which has gained prominence during the Covid-19 pandemic, is an effective alternative for bringing knowledge to all regions of the country, even the most distant from major information centers,” Arantes added.

Two technologies for multi-site soybean fungicides, a segment created by UPL, will be highlighted on the Cultiv-e platform. One of them is Unizeb Gold. In six crops, this solution, used with other fungicides at a specific site, has already treated more than 115 million hectares. In addition to Asian rust and target spot, the product is registered for treating brown spot and Alternaria porri.

"In our research, we found that 98% of farmers using Unizeb Gold visually showed the most efficient management of major diseases and, consequently, increased their crop productivity, which is our main objective. These results placed us in the lead in this category, reflecting the high performance of the composition on the country's crops," Arantes further added.

Another highlight will be Tridium, a triple formulation of azoxystrobin, mancozeb and tebuconazole, which ensures protection from the start of the crop during pre-closing between the lines. “UPL's multisite fungicides are distinguished by their efficiency in handling resistance, one of the ideals that underlie our credibility, which is to help farmers produce more sustainably. We invest in innovation to benefit the food security of the planet,” Arantes said in conclusion.

The original Portuguese version of this article is from Grupo Cultivar.