Publication updates corn cultivars available on the market

In the planning phase of corn sowing for the summer harvest, the Embrapa Corn and Sorghum (Sete Lagoas-MG) has just published the document “Corn seeds: new harvest, new cultivars and the dominance of GMOs continues”. Authored by researchers Israel Alexandre Pereira Filho and Emerson Borghi, the publication presents a survey of corn cultivars available on the market, work carried out 13 years ago by Embrapa.

The objective, according to the authors, is to assist the producer in the planning phase of this important agricultural input, which is the seed. “In this 2019/2020 agricultural year, 196 options are offered, for different purposes and growing regions”, summarizes an excerpt. According to the researchers, the information was organized to highlight the main agronomic characteristics of the cultivars, as well as data regarding the behavior of genetic materials in relation to the main diseases that can occur in corn-producing regions in Brazil.

The publication comes at a time when Brazil reveals itself as a record holder in grain production. According to Conab (Companhia Nacional de Abastecimento), in its latest survey carried out in May 2020, the national estimate for corn sowing, considering the first, second and third harvests, in the 2019/20 season, is at 18,5 million hectares and production of 102,3 million tons. “Notably, these expressive results are the product of genetic advances over the ages, in which modern plant management and improvement techniques are used”, interpret the researchers.

According to the authors, agricultural biotechnology stands out as an important tool in the development of corn hybrids with superior genetics, such as Bt and RR, which contribute to reducing pressure on natural resources, allowing for more sustainable agricultural practices. “The expectation is that this publication can serve the different professionals and audiences who cultivate this important Brazilian agricultural product, cultivated in all biomes and states, responsible for 41,5% of all grain production in the country in this current harvest”, he states the general head of Embrapa Corn and Sorgo Frederico Ozanan Machado Durães.

Predominance of GMOs and cautious optimism

Analyzing the information collected in the portfolios of corn producing companies in Brazil, the researchers reinforce that transgenic corn cultivars have dominated the market in recent harvests, and that adoption by producers is at a very high level, especially in corn cultivation. after soybeans, reaching 93% of the cultivated area. “The trend in the future is that the participation of transgenic cultivars should increase even further, with the addition of transgenic events in existing cultivars, which will not imply an increase in the number of cultivars in the short term”, they analyze.

Regarding the economic scenario for 2020, the researchers are optimistic, but reinforce that the production expectation of around 100 million tons will undergo adjustments over the next few months. There are a series of questions that could negatively affect the corn market in the second half of the year, in the view of Agricultural Economics researcher Rubens Augusto de Miranda, mainly the issue of the crisis caused by Covid-19, which has severely affected several sectors of the economy , including the production of fuels. “In the foreign market, the expectation of a record harvest in the United States could negatively affect international corn prices and, consequently, Brazilian exports”, he analyzes. Listen to the podcast on the subject here.

The publication is available free of charge for download and can be consulted at link. The application Doctor Corn, available on Android and iOS platforms, also provides this information. Download here for Android e here for iOS.