Science and technology point to new paths for seeds

From research to the field, different links in the seed chain came together for four days at the XXIII Brazilian Seed Congress, held from August 25 to 28 in Foz do Iguaçu (PR). The meeting discussed topics ranging from adding value to soybeans to the demands of large and small agricultural crops.

New technologies, bio-inputs, gene editing, combating piracy, intellectual property, and advances in research were among the topics discussed by representatives from research institutions, companies, and other segments of the sector.

According to Fernando Henning, president of the Brazilian Association of Seed Technology (Abrates), the event's organizer, this scope demonstrates the maturity and structure of the supply chain. The organization brings together four technical committees focused on seeds and forage species, seed analysis, seed pathology, and seeds and forest species.

The congress also brought together at least 15 presidents of Seed and Seedling Commissions (CSMs) from different states, who shared experiences and discussed joint actions to strengthen the seed and seedling sector in the country.

Innovation was the focus of discussions

Genetics was discussed not only as a way to increase productivity, but also as an opportunity to add value to soybeans. Gene editing and bio-inputs emerged as new frontiers of innovation in the seed sector. In the case of bio-inputs, one of the challenges is defining criteria to evaluate their efficiency and effect on seed physiology, whether as bioactivators, biofungicides, or bionematicides.

Technological advancements have also brought to the forefront a discussion about the Brazilian regulatory framework, which needs to keep pace with the innovations developed by science. This issue gains even more importance given the growing market demand for new technologies, solutions, and cultivars, and the need to ensure a return on investment in research and development.

Intellectual property was therefore among the central themes of the debates, alongside issues such as pricing and remuneration for copyright holders.

The event featured representatives from 12 countries

In total, 1.622 people participated in the event, which brought together representatives from 12 countries: Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Italy, Paraguay, the United States, Uruguay, and Venezuela, and from 25 Brazilian states (AC, AL, AM, BA, CE, DF, ES, GO, MA, MT, MS, MG, PA, PB, PR, PE, PI, RJ, RN, RS, RO, RR, SC, SP, and TO). Among the participants were three members of the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA). More than 200 experts, including speakers, moderators, and panelists, participated in panels, lectures, and four symposia.

For Henning, the size and diversity of the event solidify CBSementes as an important space for connection between the different links in the chain. "The Brazilian Seed Congress has become today the largest forum for seed science and technology, where questions find solutions and networks are formed," he stated.

According to him, one of the main distinguishing features of the event is precisely bringing together diverse audiences around the same challenges. "It's research meeting production, meeting the farmer, and bringing innovations to solve problems in the field," Henning emphasized.

According to the president, the congress strengthened the interaction between the different segments. "It's a very constant technical interaction, with scientific and technological agendas, but mainly bringing together the various players in the production chain," he stated.

This edition brought together 650 technical and scientific papers

The congress also presented approximately 650 technical and scientific papers. The diversity of the research demonstrated how science is expanding the possibilities for seed evaluation and treatment.

Among the award-winning works were studies that used blue light reflectance to identify the vigor and maturation of corn seeds, artificial intelligence and X-ray images to classify the quality of brachiaria seeds, and machine learning models to predict the viability of rice seeds.

The studies also addressed issues related to seed physiology, health, and quality, such as the influence of lignin and seed coat anatomy on the incidence of Cercospora in soybeans, the effects of pre-harvest desiccation on seed quality, and new approaches to defining the corn harvest point. In the area of ​​forest species, one of the studies discussed the challenges of seed analysis standards for ecological restoration in Brazil.

Technological advancement was highlighted in the Showroom

The congress also featured the Technology Showroom, a space dedicated to bringing together companies, researchers, and professionals, and to showcasing technologies, products, equipment, and solutions for the seed industry. 

Innovations also gained prominence at the symposia

The four symposia held during the XXIII Brazilian Seed Congress brought to the discussion topics that are changing the sector, from gene editing and artificial intelligence to sanitary quality and environmental restoration.

At the 6th Brazilian Symposium on Forage Species Seeds, the debate covered the possibilities opened up by biotechnology and genome editing with CRISPR, including the development of plants more tolerant to water stress. Nutritional and phytosanitary management, legal security, and the use of artificial intelligence in monitoring and combating the illegal seed trade were also discussed.

The 2nd Brazilian Symposium on Seed Analysis discussed how new technologies can contribute to making evaluation and quality control processes more efficient and aligned with international standards. Topics included accelerated aging testing, the challenges of treated seeds, and the application of the ISO/IEC 17025 standard. The event also honored four women who contributed to seed science: Odete Liberal, Maria Selma Carvalho, Maria de Fátima Zorato, and Maria Laene.

Seed health and the challenges of international trade were the focus of the XVII Brazilian Symposium on Seed Pathology. Discussions highlighted the importance of early diagnosis and accurate analyses to reduce risks in the field and prevent sanitary problems from turning into production losses or barriers to marketing.

At the 13th Brazilian Symposium on Forest Seeds, the debate brought together traditional knowledge, bioeconomy, and environmental restoration with tools such as genomics, X-ray imaging, and multispectral light. The program also marked the first edition of the Forest Seed Innovation Radar, which awarded research by Jamille Cardeal da Silva, from Embrapa Semiárido, in first place; Ivonir Piotrowski, in second; and Andreliza Roberta Terciotti de Oliveira, from the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), in third.