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 Green line - mar/apr 2007
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GLOBALIZATION
The Spanish edition of the SEED News Magazine will be edited and printed in Bolivia, after an agreement was reached with the Regional Seed Council (RSC) of Santa Cruz. This association initiated at the time of the birth of the SEED News Magazine, in 1997. The RSC coordinates a seed program that is an example to the world and of great interest for SEED News, which always looks forward for improvements on quality and presentation of its content. Bolivia is the country with the largest number of subscribers to the SEED News Magazine. Good things can always be improved.
EXPECTATION (I)
The XV Brazilian Seed Congress and the 28th ISTA Congress to be held as a joint event next May are calling for the attention of seed people around the world. The expectation of the Brazilian audience will be placed on the relevance of the invited speakers, whereas that of foreign participants will most certainly focus on the status of Brazilian seed technology and the tourist attractions at the venue. The hospitality of the local people will surely add to the success of the event. More than 600 participants have confirmed their registration, of which more than half are from foreign countries.
COMPETENCE AND QUALITY
The company Silomax, of Cambe, state of Paraná-Brazil, is exporting its seed processing equipments to various countries of South America as well as from Africa. Since the exchange rate for the Brazilian currency does not favor exports, the fact that business is on the rise for Silomax is the result of product quality and management skills from Mr. Rudi Junges (in front).
INNOVATION
The collaborator of SEED News to the Biotechnology section, Dr. Gaspar Malone, has been hired by the Don Mario seed company, from Argentina, to coordinate their program of biotechnology research in soybean. The investment in top technology is essential to who wants to successfully compete in the seed business, and investment in human resources is, undoubtedly, the best of all. SEED News wishes G. Malone the best of success.
SALES
Syngenta seeds showed a strong growth in Diverse Field Crops and Vegetables in 2006, largely offsetting a decline in Corn and Soybean. Diverse Field Crops performed strongly, capitalizing on the increased demand for biofuels. In Vegetables, demand for fresh produce continues to expand and sales increased across all regions, with good growth in the developing markets of Latin America and Asia.
ISF
Deon van Royen, the first ISF president from Africa, is really in high mood after the autumn meeting of the federation at Cape Town. Many committees are under way with its members willing to work, and this makes a difference in any association. Another subject is that ISF has received some very good applicants for the position as executive director to begin in 2008.
SEED TREATMENT
Bayer CropScience AG and Plant Health Care Inc have agreed to develop new seed treatment solutions based on Plant Health Care's Myconate technology in combination with Bayer CropScience's seed treatment products. The agreement enables Bayer CropScience to develop and commercialize new seed treatment solutions. The companies believe that Myconate enhanced seed treatment products could be available to growers as early as 2009, subject to regulatory approvals.
EXPECTATION (II)
Along this past summer many field days and shows happened in Brazil, and organizers have coincided in that the main attraction for visitors was related to the Biodiesel Program and its opportunities. Hopes are high; however, some issues need to be settled, among them which species and varieties are the most suitable. Biodiesel is part of the Brazilian agribusiness, which last year contributed more than USD 50 billion with exports.
UPDATE TRAINING
The Association of Seed Producers of Paraguay (APROSEMP) has signed an agreement with the Federal University of Pelotas (UFPel) by which a postgraduate course at the level of specialization will be taught to Technical Managers from seed companies. This is the second seed course held between the UFPel and APROSEMP and is coordinated by the executive secretary of the latter institution, María Stela Ojeda. Mrs Ojeda has already participated in the previous edition, which warrants efficiency and success to this year's event.
BIOTECHNOLOGY
After more than a decade since trading of genetically modified crops began, a lot of good stories can be told and they are available from ISAAA Brief 35 publication, "Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM crops: 2006", from author Dr. Clive James. Among the various facts presented, the area sown worldwide with biotechnological crops in 2006 was in excess of 100 million hectares.
JOINT VENTURE
There are different mechanisms for the establishment of ventures between the public and private sectors. The joint venture EMBRAPA - Brazil is a good example; 40% of the soybean cultivars commercially available resulted from this association and the participation of foundations and seed producers. The general manager of EMBRAPA TT, José Roberto Rodrigues Peres, said that more than USD 4 million he receives annually make it possible to develop a series of activities that would be otherwise impossible.
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