KWS will begin operations at its Advanced Research Center in Petrolina (PE)

Accelerate the process of advancing new hybrids so that Brazilian farmers can have a greater supply of products adapted to the most varied and adverse environments. This is the main objective of the activities of the plant breeding program that will be carried out at the newest KWS Sementes Advanced Research Center, located in Petrolina/PE, whose operations are scheduled to begin in the second half of 2020.   

At the Petrolina Research Center, the German multinational will develop all activities inherent to its plant improvement program, dedicated to basic and applied research, which will initially involve corn, sorghum, vegetables and sunflower crops.

The process of developing and producing a corn hybrid, for example, can take up to 10 years from the first crosses in research for the development of a new product, through field tests, until finally the production of seeds that will be acquired by the producer.

The improvement work at the Petrolina Center will result in agility in this hybrid advancement process, bringing more product options in a shorter time to identify hybrids, increase parental lines and pre-commercial volume production for farmers to test.

With an initial investment estimated at R$10 million, the German multinational's new Advanced Research Center could be expanded in the future to serve KWS improvement programs in other countries. Almost all of the work to generate new strains and event conversions will be carried out there, providing great support for the improvement of not only corn, but also sorghum, sunflower, vegetables and any other crops that the company can develop to meet the needs of Brazilian producers. and also from other countries.

“The Petrolina region is privileged by nature, as it has high levels of insolation, radiation and high luminosity, which greatly favor crop productivity. These factors, combined with low rainfall and low humidity, greatly favor the development of crops and contribute to low rates of foliar diseases. In general, crops have earlier cycles, good health and higher productivity. And this set of factors is a guarantee of success in plant improvement processes, with different types of germplasm being able to be planted all year round, and each cycle completed quickly”, says Weber Moreira Jr, Director of Research and Development at KWS Brazil.

Work at the Center is expected to begin in the 2nd half of 2020, initially on a smaller scale to carry out equipment testing and team training, however, by mid-June 2021, KWS intends to intensify field activities , and reach a large part of its work capacity in the new unit. The Petrolina Advanced Research Center will begin to operate with all necessary authorizations and following all environmental and legal standards required by the authorities.

The company also reveals that it intends, in the near future, to implement its own quarantine station to speed up the seed import and export processes. Furthermore, the construction of a molecular analysis laboratory to support strain conversion work and other molecular analyzes that can support its various improvement projects are also in its plans.