Integration between data intelligence and genetic information helps in plant improvement

Plant genetics is a science that has become increasingly essential in the world of agriculture. The properties present in a plant's genome are determining factors in knowing how the plant responds to each type of climate, soil and production system. The genome, or genetic code, contains all the hereditary information of a living being. Reading the genome, translated into DNA information obtained by genetic sequencing or molecular markers, allows the conduct of genetic studies necessary to promote the entire process of genetic improvement.

Although genetic improvement has been present in agriculture for thousands of years, it has gained new horizons through the use of tools in biotechnology and genetic engineering. These areas helped to develop different tools and techniques that allow the manipulation of DNA, and modify the present characteristics of the plant, in order to make them acquire new attributes, associated with high productive performance, improved nutritional profile, resistance to pests and diseases, between others.

“This process expanded the horizons of agriculture, generating several benefits for the productive sector through the delivery of improved seeds with new biotechnologies that bring greater productivity and allow the optimized use of agricultural inputs, guaranteeing the consolidation of Brazil as an agricultural power, worldwide. ”, says Anderson Meda, research manager at TMG - Tropical Melhoramento & Genética, a company whose mission is to develop genetic solutions to deliver productivity and profitability to farmers, and meet the global demand for food and cotton fiber in a sustainable way.

The expert highlights that the new moment in genetic improvement is the use of genetic information generated by DNA analysis to predict the performance of new lines or hybrids generated, using regional simulation models, which take into account climate, soil and management information. agricultural.

“All this progress goes hand in hand with digital technology, which plays a leading role in leveraging the evolution of breeding programs with tools that must integrate all decision-making stages to deliver new seeds with high performance”, explains Meda.

This new phase of improvement programs is part of the concept of Agriculture 4.0, which combines all these technological and scientific advances, placing the sector on another level. “For farmers, the combination of management technologies with genetic gains brought about by breeding programs results in more sustainable and profitable production”, concludes the research manager.

Company plans to invest R$1 billion in R&D by 2031

To keep up with trends and innovations in the genetic improvement market, TMG invested more than R$15 million in expanding the laboratory located in the Cambé (PR) complex, the company's headquarters. By 2031, R$1 billion will be invested in research and development.