Producers are betting on genetics to overcome climate challenges.

The constant search for stability and high yield potential has led Brazilian farmers to reassess the role of soybean seed genetics in the productivity of their crops. In the southern region of Brazil, such as in the cities of Maringá and São Jerônimo da Serra (PR), this transformation is already a reality. The new episodes of the web series Voices of Change, promoted by Syngenta's Golden Harvest brand, reveal how the choice of varieties, combined with rigorous technical management, is redefining productivity rates. The aim of the production is to show producers who have decided to change, learn about new cultivars and, with that, achieve new results.

In Maringá, farmer Cleber Veroneze Filho faced the challenge of maintaining profitability in the face of the region's fluctuating climate, even with very fertile soil ideal for soybean and corn crops. "We have several years of dry spells, with high temperatures, and problems with frost in the winter," he reports. By adopting the GH2564I2X hybrid from Golden Harvest, the producer says he observed a superior response in terms of initial vigor and adaptability, with benefits all the way to harvest.

“It dried in a very standardized way, unlike other varieties. And even with these adversities, the results we obtained were very interesting. So, it shows that it has stability and a high productive capacity.” Combining the genetic quality of the variety with robust phytosanitary management, with planned fungicide applications, the result was positive and very satisfactory. “I intend to plant a larger area next year to really understand the behavior of the Golden materials,” concludes Veroneze Filho.

Similarly, the scenario in São Jerônimo da Serra demanded seeds capable of withstanding water and heat stress without compromising productive potential. Farmer André Luiz Machado, who has been cultivating soybeans in the region for about six harvests, says he faced challenges mainly due to the altitude. “We've been testing new cultivars each harvest to adapt them. And the 2463I2X cultivar adapted very well to our region and is delivering very good results,” explains Machado. In the 2024/25 harvest, with regular but low-density rainfall, the cultivar yielded 176 sacks per alqueire (2,42 hectares), exceeding the average of 140 sacks from other harvests.

Fungal management also made a difference in the farmer's results. Facing resistance to diseases such as white mold, rust, and powdery mildew, the region is also prone to lodging due to the high altitude. "Golden Harvest has been performing very well in terms of plant health. It delivered good size, didn't lodge, didn't lose lower leaves, and didn't abort pods due to water stress, which we experienced with little rain," the producer points out.

For Syngenta, these results reaffirm the Golden Harvest brand's commitment to producer success. “The combination of cutting-edge genetics, a specialized technical team, and close relationships with those who make production happen is what sustains Brazilian agriculture. At Syngenta, we invest in research and development to deliver the best materials so that our licensees and partners prosper even more. That's why we've been encouraging farmers to learn about new varieties to show that it's possible to produce more and better,” says Ricardo Formentini, Commercial Director for Golden Harvest at Syngenta Seeds in Brazil.