IV Brazilian Symposium on Forage Seeds debates links in the production chain

The IV Brazilian Symposium on Forage Species Seeds, held last week in Curitiba, as part of the XXI Brazilian Seed Congress, presented and debated topics, from plant improvement to interaction with the market and standards. The symposium was coordinated by Dr. Jaqueline Verzignassi, researcher at Embrapa Gado de Corte.

Among the guest speakers was the participation of Dr. Maria Alejandra Perez, professor at the National University of Córdoba, in Argentina, who spoke on the topic “Physiology of forage seed production”. “In our lecture we highlighted physiology not only to increase the quality, but also the productivity of seeds. Today, there are basic technologies that favor this better performance”, pointed out Alejandra.

The symposium coordinator, Jaqueline Verzignassi, considered that the program met the expectations of the participants. “The topics were very applicable and complementary to all links in the production system. We had the participation of producers,

researchers, representatives of large producer associations and research promoters. The standard of discussions was very good”, assessed Jaqueline.

The first panel “Improvement for seed production of forage species” was moderated by Dr. Miguel Dall'Agnol, professor at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. Among the speakers, PhD Cacilda Borges do Valle, from Embrapa Gado de Cut with the theme “Breeding tools for the production of tropical forage seeds.

Doctor Daniel Portella Montardo, from Embrapa Pecuária Sul, presented the lecture “Interaction between genetic improvement and the temperate forage seed market. Afterwards, the general manager of Embrapa Soja, PhD Alexandre Nepomuceno, gave the lecture “New biotechnology tools and their impacts on forage seed productivity”.

The panel sparked an interesting debate with the participation of Álvaro Peixoto, general director of Barenburg do Brasil; Edmir Baggio, president of the South-Brazilian Association for promoting research on Forages – Sulpasto; Marcos Roveri José, executive manager of the Association for the Promotion of Forage Improvement Research – Unipasto.

The second panel “Advances in seed production of forage species” was mediated by Dr. Manoel de Souza Maia, professor at the Federal University of Pelotas. Doctor Eduardo Delgado Assad (FGV/GVAGRO) presented the lecture “Climate and the production of seeds of forage species: a necessary zoning”.

The program had the international participation of Argentine physiologist Maria Alejandra Perez, who spoke about “Physiology of forage seed production”. The panel also featured the lecture “Vigor tests on tropical forage seeds: practical aspects” given by Dr. Ceci Castilho Custódio, professor at the Universidade do Oeste Paulista.

Right after a brief debate, the third panel with the theme “Legislation and legal, social and sustainability compliances as transformation and support of the forage seed market”, was moderated by Jaqueline Verzignassi.

The panel opened with the lecture “Seeds of forage species: what are the changes in legislation?”, given by Dr. Virgínia Arantes Ferreira Carpi, general coordinator of Seeds and Seedlings at the Ministry of Agriculture and Supply (Mapa).

To speak on the topic “Security in the production chain and its impact on the transformation of the forage seed market: Aprossul Legal Seed Program”, Tiago Pilon, Accounts Manager at Ceptis Agro and coordinator of the Legal Seed Program were invited; and Celso Pess Júnior, president of the Association of Seed and Seedling Producers of the State of Mato Grosso do Sul and president of Grupo Era.

The symposium ended with a debate with the participation of speakers