Spain - Syngenta cereal conference presents innovative crop solutions

Date:02-05-2024

On January 16 and 17, nearly 140 Syngenta technicians and distribution managers in Northern Spain met in Pamplona to learn about the company's new solutions for cereal cultivation during two intense days. 

Following the company's strategic commitment to regenerative agriculture, which includes a series of techniques to conserve the soil, care for basic resources, such as water, and reduce the use of inputs to achieve truly sustainable agricultural production.

Therefore, all the innovations presented at the conference are focused on fulfilling this commitment, whether they are new biological products that facilitate plant nutrition, such as NutribioN^® and YieldOn^®; innovative plant health solutions that are more effective and persistent at low doses, such as Axial One^®, Flame Duo^®, Control DPM and Greteg^®, which is in the registration stage; or digital tools that help crop management, such as the CropWise Digital Notebook.

NutribioN^®, natural nitrogen fixation in winter cereals

The first day of the conference was dedicated to Syngenta's biological solutions for cereals, during which the good results from the application of NutribioN^® in the pre-emergence of all winter cereal trials were discussed. It should be noted that there are currently strong restrictions in legislation covering fertilizers and the use of nitrogen fertilizers in vulnerable areas. Furthermore, during both periods of drought and heavy rainfall, the application of nitrogen can harm cereals or cause nitrogen to leach into the soil. 

Within this context, it is very important to have a biological tool tested in the field with proven efficacy, such as NutribioN®, a probiotic for cereal based on the bacteria, Azotobacter salinestris Strain CECT9690, which is exclusive to Syngenta and has a triple mode of action via foliar, root and rhizosphere of plants, achieving both nitrogen fixation from the air into plants and reducing losses through a clear biostimulant effect, enhancing growth, boosting metabolism, ensuring healthier growth and disease resistance. With NutribioN^®, the need to provide crops with fertilizing units is significantly reduced and loss in the soil due to leaching is avoided.

At the conference, trials done with NutribioN^® during pre and post-emergence applications on wheat, barley and corn crops were discussed, along with the company’s pre and post-emergence herbicides. Thirty fertilizer units have been applied at less than the usual doses used by farmers, and in all cases, plots treated with NutribioN^® were seen to have had much greater plant growth in tillers, and nitrogen fertilizer units were used in a more effective manner. The recommendation would be to apply the product at the start of the cycle before tillering on the first leaves of plants, and it is compatible with herbicides and nutritionals, such as Isabion^®, Quantis^®, Axial Pro^®, AxialOne^®, Elatus Era^®, Flame Duo^®, and others. 

Regarding biologics, the market and future of this type of product was also analyzed and other novelties were presented, such as YieldOn^®, a biostimulant based on selected extracts from three different families of plants and algae enriched with microelements (Mn, Zn and Mo), which can increase the productivity of extensive crops by regulating metabolism, cell division and expansion, improving the transportation of sugars and nutrients, and facilitating the biosynthesis of lipids and their movement.

Launch of herbicides Axial One® and Flame Duo^®

The second part of the conference was dedicated to several important launches, such as the new solution from Syngenta's Axial family of herbicides based on the Pinoxaden molecule, Axial One^®, which is growing in presence year-after-year in the market, doubling in turnover over the past decade. Axial One^® is a latest generation herbicide for controlling vallico, oats and canary seed in wheat and barley, in addition to dicotyledons, such as Galium or non-resistant Papaver.

Axial One^® is boosted by the reliability and technology of Axial Pro^®, as well as an application record until the end of flag leaf (39BBCH), presenting high selectivity in both early and late applications and offering a complete dose of Florasulam in one single application. Axial One^® is a simple, versatile and robust product, which represents a new success for a leader in the market. 

Flame Duo^®, Syngenta's new herbicide solution for controlling broadleaf in cereal based on Tribenuron and Florasulam, was also presented during the conference. It offers dual action, both root and foliar, and has proven synergy. Applied during post-emergence on crops, it has an excellent granulated formulation and rapidly dissolves, and is a great choice for farmers who require a simple, versatile and effective solution. Flame Duo^® has been registered for use on a wide range of crops, including on all cereals, such as oats, barley, rye, wheat and triticale, providing effective control of most weeds that attack cereal crops. It is selective on crops and allows early or late applications without affecting crop yield. Its application is also completely safe for crops following rotation.

The conference also presented other solutions, such as Control DMP, which is a product that improves foliar absorption, which reduces surface tension and facilitates the penetration of the solution into plants. In addition, Control DMP acts as a fertilizer due to its 3N-17P composition. 

Another solution that was presented but still in the registration phase is Greteg^®, which is a new Triazole-based fungicide for wheat cultivation from Syngenta. It acts well against important foliar pathogens of cereals, due to its combination of curative and preventive actions. It also flexible in use and has a lasting effect on the crops due to its mode of action and is very effective at low doses, being the perfect ally for good resistance management.

The two-day ″Cereal Days″ ended with a review of the digital tools offered by Syngenta's CropWise division, such as the Digital Field Notebook, which is a vital tool for good crop management that facilitates the efficient use of agricultural supplies for crops.