HB4 technology for soybeans is presented to farmers by TMG

With an estimated 16,2% reduction in the soybean harvest compared to the previous harvest, Rio Grande do Sul is one of the Brazilian states that has been suffering from drought in crops, which is also reflected in corn cultivation. The situation worries producers, but it is not something new nor an isolated fact in the state, but a common condition in most soy-growing regions of Brazil. To face situations like these, of abiotic stress, where periods of drought harm plant development and, consequently, productivity, farmers will be able to count, within a few years, on HB4 Technology.

Developed by the American company Verdeca, j between Arcadia Biosciences and Bioceres Crop Solutions, HB4 Technology was approved in 2019 by CTNBio for commercial use in Brazil. Tropical Melhoramento e Genética (TMG) was responsible for the deregulation of technology in the country and leads the development of HB4 soybeans, through its Soy Genetic Improvement Program. Recently, visitors to the 21st Expodireto Cotrijal, in Não-Me-Toque (RS), were able to watch the pre-launch of the new product.

What is HB4 Technology

HB4 Technology was developed from a native sunflower gene, which gives plants tolerance to water deficit and salinity. HB4, in turn, is the name of the gene that was isolated from sunflower and transferred, via genetic transformation, to soybeans, wheat and corn. Sunflower is a crop that naturally has greater tolerance to abiotic stress.

As explained by Samira Librelon, a researcher at TMG, the HB4 gene gives the plant less sensitivity to ethylene. “Ethylene is a hormone synthesized in response to stress and even at very low concentrations it can cause effects on fruit ripening, flowering, senescence and abscission of leaves, flowers and fruits. The plant with HB4 continues to maintain its biological metabolism and, in this way, is able to maintain high levels of productivity in moderate stress situations and does not have its yield impaired under normal conditions”, she defines.

Results

In the 2017/18 harvest, Argentina went through the worst drought in the last 70 years and an estimated 30% drop in soybean production in the neighboring country. There, HB4 technology has been tested since 2009 and many positive results have been observed, according to the researcher. “Given this condition, it was possible to observe the positive effects of HB4 technology. Experiments demonstrated an increase of 15% to 30% in productivity, compared to non-HB4 soybeans”, he highlights.

“We believe that in the tropical conditions of Brazil, where depending on the region we have small daily stresses throughout the summer, associated with high temperatures, the gain in yield of the HB4 cultivars will possibly be greater than that observed in Argentina. We are very satisfied with the previous results obtained in internal tests in our experimental fields, we will soon have more data to present” he also explains.

Market availability

The expectation of being able to count on cultivars that bring this technology is great among farmers. TMG directors point out that at this point it is necessary to wait for the technology to be approved in China and Europe, which are the largest importers of Brazilian soybeans, before it is possible to launch commercial cultivars in the country. “The technology is approved in Argentina, the United States, Paraguay and Brazil, we are now awaiting this approval in China and Europe, our expectation is that the commercial launch of the first TMG cultivars with HB4 will occur for the 2022/23 harvest”, said the company's director present, Francisco José Soares.