TMG celebrates 20 years and invests more than R$1 billion in research and development

TMG - Tropical Melhoramento & Genética, a Brazilian company providing genetic solutions for cotton, soybeans and corn - turns 20 in 2021. The company celebrates its anniversary along with many achievements, including leadership in the cotton seed market. According to Spark's BIP Algodão survey for the 2020/21 harvest, the company holds around 44% of the market share.

The company is also preparing for the next 10 years. According to Francisco Soares, president of TMG, by 2031 R$1 billion will be invested in research and development. "TMG is a Brazilian genetic solutions company, created by farmers and researchers with the aim of developing genetic solutions that deliver productivity and profitability to farmers. Therefore, contributions to research and development are essential for us to continue growing together with Brazilian agribusiness ", he comments.

Investments will be directed to several initiatives. "Currently, we have soybean and cotton cultivars, in addition to research in corn. The resources will be applied to soybean gene editing studies, mainly with resistance to rust and high productivity. In cotton farming, the focus will be on developing a genetically modified tolerant variety to the boll weevil, the main cotton pest. The variety is expected to reach the market within 10 years", highlights Soares.

For corn, innovations will arrive next year. "In 2013, TMG started the Corn Hybrid Improvement Program. There have been eight years of projects for the grain. In the 2022 harvest, we will offer the first seed with our signature to the market", says Soares.

Focus on R&D and physical presence in five Brazilian states

With 450 employees, 280 in the research and development area, TMG's headquarters are in Cambé (PR) and the company also has seven Research Centers, spread across five states, in the main Brazilian producing regions with trials and field experiments. . Locations will also benefit from investment in technology in the field and in the laboratory with digital transformation, including big data, customized platforms, drones, sensors, artificial intelligence, process automation, among others.

According to Soares, TMG is the only one to have all the biotechnologies on the market and a premium germplasm bank. "In addition, we have a research collaboration agreement with several countries around the world, as well as academic entities and centers. Currently, TMG invests in around 70 projects, more than half of which are in research and development, including soybean strains being tested in Africa, the United States and Paraguay".

TMG's entire seed business is carried out by licensees who multiply seeds. Currently, there are around 110.

Return on investments

According to Soares, the company expects to earn R$290 million in 2021 and gradually increase the value until 2031. "Over the next ten years, TMG plans to earn more than R$3 billion, in total, thanks to investments in research and development, which will represent a third of the company's earnings", he concludes.