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 Green line - mar/apr 2008
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Lot size
The commercialization of sorghum seeds, at international level, has increased lately in such a way that the International Seed Federation (ISF) has requested the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) to consider increasing the lot size for non-chaffy sorghum from 10 ton to 30 ton. The study is under way and it is expected that through its results it will be evaluated in the next ISTA annual meeting.
Common sense
In Brazil, as OGM is a concern, there is a forum to approve the material for commercialization called CTNBIO (technical board for biosafety) and when the issue gets hot it will involve a broader forum with ministers from the government. To liberate two OGM types of maize it involved the ministers and by common sense they approved what was already decided by the CTNBIO. It was a good sign for those who are working on technological innovation.
Exchange
Doctoral candidate Denise Miranda, who spent four months in the seed lab in Karlsruhe, coordinated by ISTA Honorary President dr. Norbert Leist and Rainer Knoblauch, a member of ISTA varietal identification committee, has come back from Germany. The work involved the molecular analysis of seeds aiming at identifying OGM materials. It is very important this relationship where everyone wins, some in one way and others in another way. It involves, culture, life experience, science, technology, friendship among other aspects
Asian Rust
The advent of Asian rust-resistant soybeans cultivars is causing a significant expectation. At the moment, MT Foundation is disseminating its Inox soybeans, estimating that in 2009 producers will have access to seeds of these cultivars. There are several other improvement programs in soy beans that also have materials that are resistant or tolerant to such disease, whose control costs to producers more than one billion Dollars/year in the application of chemical products. Brazilians can be proud of the researchers who are being able to control Asian rust through natural means of varietal resistance or tolerance.
Seed performance
The concept of seed performance is well accepted in Brazil, especially with soybeans, which has more than 90% of its seeds treated with fungicide, 60% with micronutrient, 50% with insecticide, and 30% film-coated. The results are really outstanding looking at stand establishment and yield increase.
Agreement
Syngenta and DuPont announced a global agreement that will provide DuPont business, Pioneer Hi-Bred, access to Syngenta's novel insect control corn event, MIR162. Under the royalty-bearing agreement, Syngenta will grant Pioneer a non-exclusive, global license with stacking rights to MIR162. According to Pioneer, the addition of MIR162 to the already strong insect control trait portfolio will provide growers with a superior product choice in controlling the broadest range of insect pests. MIR162 will protect corn above the ground by delivering high-level control of a broad spectrum of lepidopteran insects including fall army worm, corn ear worm, western bean and black cut worm and sugar cane borer, which are key pests in the United States, Brazil and Argentina.
SAA
The entity Seed Association of the Americas (SAA), in its last meeting, decided to move its headquarters from Washington-USA, to Montevideo-Uruguay. At that opportunity, Diego Risso, from Uruguay, has also taken on as executive secretary. SEED News wishes success to the entity in its new headquarters, as well as to its directors who, by the way, have large experience in seed business in that area.
Visit
Company Cool Seed (Brazil) has become structured in such a way that it is usual to have caravans of agribusiness entrepreneurs visiting its plant and units where their seed cooling devices are working. An example of this is the caravan of Argentinean entrepreneurs that has visited the company recently, some of them resulting in purchase orders. When the product is good and the system has solid scientific bases, the business is far much easier, mainly when conducted by qualified professionals.
ISF
Upon dr. Bernard Le Buanec retirement, dr. Marcel Bruins took on as general secretary of the International Seed Federation (ISF) last January. One of his first activities is coordinating the 2008 Congress of the entity to take place in next May, in Prague, Czech Republic. Fortunately to Dr. Marcel, ISF team assembled by Dr. Bernard has large experience, giving more tranquility with regards to the success of the journey.
OGM Brazil
A recent study in Brazil estimated that more than four billion dollars have been saved by the farmers using RR soybean during the last three crop years. Brazil cultivates 23 millions hectares of soybeans, from which more than 60% are with OGM. This technology for soybean came to stay and farmers are waiting for RR soybean II. In relation to cotton there is no data yet, however the expectation in saving and yield increase is high with this first commercial crop year. Cotton is a crop that requires, just for cultivation, more than US$1500.00/ha (in Brazil), so any input that helps the farmer, is practically adopted.
Seed Trade
Seed world exports can be considered to be 5.4 billion dollars per year where vegetable seeds do represent 25% over the total. Considering the last 15 years, the growth is estimated as being 160 million dollars per year. This trend leads to more increase in the seed trade among the countries where the international organizations are essential to harmonize it.
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