Agristar do Brasil mining unit turns 10 years old

The Agristar do Brasil mining unit, located in Guimarânia (MG), is completing 10 years in 2021. Designed to be a center for research and genetic improvement of tropical varieties, its recent move to a larger space with better infrastructure has made it possible the expansion of the work carried out.

According to product development director Maurício Coutinho, a new infrastructure was built in addition to a new, modern irrigation system and more efficient and practical cages. “Our focus of work is the tropical improvement of carrots, okra and Santa Cruz and Saladete tomatoes, with 100% national genetics. These product groups have great representation within our market potential in Brazil and are strategic for Agristar to increase its market share in the coming years”.

For Plant Breeding Manager, André Mattedi, the unit perfectly represents the tropical conditions sought in research: high light, high temperatures, high rainfall and high air humidity during different times of the year. "The unit mainly develops the genetic improvement of plants, from the formation of new lineages, advancement of generations, maintenance of existing lineages and plant crossings with the aim of forming new hybrids to be tested", he highlights.

Mattedi, who has a PhD in Genetics and Plant Breeding, also explains that the research carried out at the unit aims to create varieties that adapt to different regions of the country, not just focusing on the region. "Since the work is to develop tropical genetics, we can think about adapting it to practically all of Brazil at some time of the year and even to other regions of the world."

He adds that crossings are carried out in order to develop hybrids that contain all the qualities that the market requires, such as productivity, resistance, sensory qualities, among other characteristics. This is complex work that takes years to reach a product with the desired specifications. 

We started at the unit with the improvement of carrots and okra, and later with the Santa Cruz and Saladete tomato breeding program. During all these years we have evaluated and selected plants that best adapt to our conditions, advancing generations and forming lines for later creation of hybrids. We have also set up numerous experimental fields to select products for other crops of interest to the region. The work that the Research and Development team has done in recent years using the unit in Guimarânia has allowed the launch of products that are now successful in our commercial portfolio.