Bayer brings together experts in weed management in a digital event

In order to discuss weed management practices and new solutions for Brazilian soybean crops, Bayer held this Wednesday, June 19, the 2nd edition of I2X TALKS. The online event brought together researchers, consultants and industry partners to talk about herbicide application technologies, focusing on spray drift, volatility and decontamination, accessory market news, formulations and effectiveness of dicamba-based herbicides in controlling of weeds.

Those who participated in the event can check out the lessons learned by the I2X team of experts throughout the 2019/20 harvest. Researchers from the sector's main research entities and consultancies have released unpublished data from trials conducted this past year on weed management, innovation and application technology. The studies were carried out in experimental soybean fields with Intacta 2 Xtend technology, the next biotechnology that Bayer will bring to the Brazilian market.

According to the platform launch leader, Fábio Passos, the expert program is an initiative created by the company with the purpose of developing and validating management recommendations and good practices for applying dicamba-based herbicides to control weeds. The project began in the 2018/2019 harvest and involves the main academics and consultants in Brazil, who developed study protocols focused on application technology, formulations (volatility), recommended good practices for tank cleaning and drift reduction, as well as all efficacy studies in weed control and caterpillar protection.

The event

The 2nd edition of I2X Talks was held virtually. Among the topics that were presented during the morning of lectures and debates were the lessons learned in the 2019/20 harvest in relation to drift and volatility; tank cleaning and its implications for soybean cultivation; use of dicamba in integrated weed management; the importance of industry in application technology; training and qualification of producers and field workers; and Bayer's next steps regarding the launch of the Intacta  2 Xtend platform.

Intact 2 Xtend

The third generation of soybean biotechnology developed by Bayer, the Intacta 2 Xtend, is expected to be commercially launched in Brazil for the 2021/22 harvest. The platform will provide protection against the main soybean caterpillars, expanding its scope of defense against two more relevant species (Helicoverpa armigera and Spodoptera cosmioides), in addition to the four that are already targeted by the current Intacta RR2 PRO technology (soybean caterpillar, of apples, false measurer and armpit borer). 

The solution allows for broader weed control – as in addition to being tolerant to the herbicide glyphosate, the oilseed with Intacta 2 Xtend technology will also be tolerant to dicamba, a herbicide for controlling broad-leaved weeds such as horseweed, pigweed, viola string and black walleye. In June this year, the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) granted a safety certificate for the import of Bayer's new biotechnology for use in food/feed. The technology awaits approval from the European Union.