BASF launches canola variety in North America

BASF has launched a canola variety that could redefine the course of cultivation in parts of Canada and the United States. InVigor Gold, as it has been named, promises to transform previously unproductive areas into fertile soil for modern agriculture. The innovation offers heat tolerance, resistance to pod shattering and defense against diseases, in addition to compatibility with the herbicide LibertyLink.

In trials conducted between 2022 and 2024 in Canada and the Northern Great Plains, InVigor Gold outperformed the average yield of conventional varieties by 8%, the company said. The trials, conducted in the brown soil zone, demonstrated stable productivity even under adverse environmental conditions.

With this performance, farmers in Montana, for example, are looking to a new horizon. The state's governor, Greg Gianforte, stated that the arrival of the new seed reinforces the local agricultural tradition. For him, innovation and the efforts of producers form the basis of progress in the field.

In addition to opening up new areas for canola cultivation, the variety brings another advantage: despite having yellow seeds, it can be processed together with traditional varieties, without the need for changes in storage and processing systems. This is a logistical benefit that simplifies adoption and reduces operational costs.

Bryan Perry (pictured), BASF's seed and trait leader in the US, says the new technology will allow the full genetic potential of canola to be explored and will contribute to increased productivity.

InVigor Gold is expected to be available in the US market from 2027, pending regulatory approval. In Canada, it is expected to arrive by the end of the decade or early next.