Bayer brings integrated solutions for cotton farmers to the Cotton Congress

Seeds, biotechnology, crop protection and digital services are some of the main innovations that Bayer will present during the 13th edition of the Brazilian Cotton Congress (CBA), held from August 16th to 18th, in Salvador (BA). The event returns to the in-person format and will allow the multinational to share with cotton farmers its solutions developed to contribute to more productive, sustainable and profitable agriculture, from planting to post-harvest.

“Even in a scenario full of uncertainty due to Covid-19 and cyclical issues, we maintained our investment of around €2 billion per year globally in research and development to continue delivering innovation, meeting the specific needs of farmers, crops and our customers' soils. And cotton farming is essential in our strategy”, says Fernando Prudente, director of Soy and Cotton Business at Bayer.

“We make cutting-edge technologies and germplasm available to producers with the capacity to support them in the challenges of tropical agriculture. We are happy to be able to participate, with our launches and our solutions, in another edition of the Brazilian Cotton Congress, an important environment for discussion about innovation and sustainability in the sector”, explains Prudente.

One example is the Bollgard 3 RRFlex biotechnology, commercially launched in this 2021/2022 harvest. Developed over five years in a co-creation program, with the support of a network of researchers and producers, biotechnology is part of Bayer's strategy for managing insects in cotton cultivation. Among the benefits, Bollgard 3 RRFlex provides cotton farmers with broad protection against the main caterpillars that attack the crop, such as false leafworm, leafworm, pink caterpillar and apple caterpillar, in addition to adding protection against caterpillar species from the Spodoptera spp and Helicoverpa spp complexes. Regarding weed control, the producer has the flexibility to use the herbicide glyphosate in its management.

“We achieved very positive results in productivity, health and fiber quality, with a lot of investment in scientific research, in a process of co-creation with the chain. In comparison with the main checks (similar varieties on the market), we recorded a potential increase in productivity of approximately 6 arrobas of lint/ha”, explains Eduardo Correa, Marketing Leader for Bayer's Cotton Business for Latin America.

For its second commercial year, harvest 22/23, the portfolio of cotton varieties with Bollgard 3 RRFlex technology will be expanded, with the launch of new cultivars by licensed partners, following the collaborative model of developing technologies for the crop. In total, cotton farmers will have three Deltapine varieties and two from Tropical Melhoramento & Genética (TMG) available.

Portfolio of integrated solutions

CBA visitors will be able to discover the Deltapine brand's portfolio of varieties, which provides cotton farmers with the most modern and innovative cotton seeds, in the most applicable and personalized way. When combined with Bollgard 3 RRFlex biotechnology and sustainable management practices, they favor a high production ceiling and fiber quality, as well as adaptability in environments for both crops.

For the next harvest, Deltapine brings to the market the new DP 1949 B3RF variety, whose main benefits are high productivity and stability. “This launch will support cotton farmers with excellent fiber yield, high response to growth regulator, tolerance to ramularia I and resistance to blue disease and bacteriosis. Our expectation, according to the results of field trials, is that this new germplasm will present a fiber yield of around 43%, in addition to productivity gains compared to the main market checks”, highlights João Tovajar, Commercial Business Leader of Bayer Cotton.

In addition to the new variety, other varieties with Bollgard 3 RRFlex biotechnology are now available to cotton farmers in the Deltapine portfolio: DP 1857 B3RF, with a fiber yield of 42,8%, and DP 1866 B3RF, with a fiber yield of 40,8. 1786%, both of which offer expanded protection against the main caterpillars that attack the crop and flexibility in weed management. The brand also has in its portfolio the DP XNUMX RRFlex variety, which stands out for its fiber quality, in addition to being an ally of cotton farmers for planting refuge areas.

Crop protection

Another novelty that will be presented during the CBA is the launch of Aplic, Bayer's new growth regulator. Unlike what exists on the market today, the formulation has two modes of action, mepiquat chloride and cyclanilide, which when combined provide balanced growth with less stress to the plant, favoring productivity and fiber quality.

“During the CBA, we are launching Bayer's new growth regulator, which brings innovation in crop growth regulation, with flexibility in the dose recommended in the leaflet and well-defined application intervals that facilitate planning. Aplic complements the cotton grower's expertise and supports more efficient management with better results throughout the cotton cycle”, highlights Adolpho Lemos, Bayer's Selective Herbicides Portfolio Manager for Latin America.

Another outstanding solution for protecting cotton plants is the Fox Xpro fungicide, which combats the crop's main diseases. Composed of three active ingredients and an innovative formulation, the product protects crops from diseases such as ramularia spot (Ramularia areola) and target spot (Corynespora cassiicola). This boils down to more productivity, as Fox Xpro allowed an increase of 9 arrobas in cotton cultivation in research areas with the main crop specialists.

For insects that are difficult to control, such as the cotton boll weevil, the main pest that attacks the crop and directly affects its productivity, Bayer offers cotton farmers Curbix, an excellent tool for managing resistance and rotation of active ingredients to combat the boll weevil. . The insecticide acts to control insects in two ways: through ingestion and, mainly, through contact, providing a high shock effect and a prolonged period of control. The solution contributes to the maintenance of reproductive structures, on average 18% more than in areas not treated with Curbix.

Sustainability and innovation in the field

Visitors will also be able to take a closer look at the features of Climate FieldView, Bayer's digital agriculture platform that already maps more than 22 million hectares in Brazil. The use of data is also responsible for supporting models already known to farmers and which have been gaining strength, such as the PRO Carbono program. Developed collaboratively with rural producers and partners, it offers benefits to Brazilian farmers willing to increase their productivity and increase carbon sequestration in the soil through the adoption of even more sustainable agronomic practices.

“Brazilian cotton farming has evolved a lot in recent years and will continue to evolve. Today, the solutions presented to cotton farmers, whether in terms of biotechnology, crop protection or through digital agriculture tools, such as Climate Fieldview, make producers increasingly safer in controlling pests and achieving productivity with optimized use of inputs and natural resources”, concludes Fernando Prudente.

Furthermore, for the sixth consecutive year, Bayer supports the Sou de Algodão movement, created by the Brazilian Association of Cotton Producers (Abrapa) and the Brazilian Cotton Institute (IBA). The initiative seeks to raise collective awareness around responsible consumption and fiber certification, which helps ensure that the cotton that arrives in the consumer's wardrobe is produced in a sustainable and traceable way.

Agenda

In addition to visiting the Bayer stand, CBA participants will be able to listen to lectures by the company's spokespersons, who will address the performance of biotechnologies against the main cotton pests and concrete actions and opportunities for farmers to be part of the cotton market. carbon in the future.

August 16th - 16:30 pm (Room 5)

Patrick Dourado, Resistance Management Leader at Bayer will participate in the panel “Analysis of the technical and economic viability of biotechnologies”.

August 17th – 16:45 pm (Room 2)

Fabio Passos, director of Bayer's Carbon Business for Latin America, will participate in the panel “Is the carbon market an opportunity for Brazilian cotton?”.