Rice seeds with Max-Ace technology will be introduced to the market in 2021

The emergence of new technologies favors the environmental sustainability of agricultural production, especially rice farming. For example, new improved cultivars, developed after years of research, help producers produce more, preserving natural resources.

The rice harvest for the 2020/2021 harvest began a few days ago, and according to data from the National Supply Company (Conab), the estimated production should be close to the average of recent years, despite the volume of rain not being enough. in some regions. This scenario, according to sector experts, reflects the excellent work carried out by producers and the advancement of technologies used in crops.

Rice producers in Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina closely monitor the end of the cycle in pre-commercial crops which, for the first time, are evaluated in experimental areas with seeds using Max-Ace technology, developed by the multinational RiceTec, which has Research Centers in Santa Maria and Capão de Leão, being a world reference in the development and commercialization of hybrid rice seeds.

Rural producer José Vilmar summarizes the results in the area where he carried out the tests, in Santo Antônio da Patrulha, on the North Coast of Rio Grande do Sul, as “fantastic”. "I planted it in a small, but very problematic area of ​​red rice. Today if you go there and look, it is clean, without red, strong, beautiful", he celebrates. And he compares it with the field next door, where the new technology was not used. "The other has a very large amount of red, this will greatly hinder productivity. The difference there is overnight." According to Vilmar, the harvest is expected in the second half of March.

The agronomist and business coordinator in Brazil at RiceTec Sementes, Marlon Scursone, highlights the importance of the new technology developed meeting the producer's needs. "The results achieved so far are excellent and should revolutionize the rice farming market in Brazil. This product was developed to meet the needs of the producer, from weed control to the result in productivity, growing demands in this market", he states.

Seeds with Max-Ace technology will be introduced commercially, for use in commercial crops, from the next harvest, in 2021/2022, but can now be seen by producers in the technological showcases of the 31st Opening of the Rice and Grain Harvest in Terras Baixas , which this year takes place from February 9th to 11th at Embrapa Capão do Leão (RS).

Genetics tolerant to ACCase inhibitor herbicides

Max-Ace has genetics tolerant to ACCase inhibitor herbicides, obtained through mutations, acting to control the main grasses in rice farming, such as red rice and rice grass, including genotypes resistant to other chemical groups, plants considered an obstacle to crop yield and which can lead to a reduction in the quality of the final product. With the new technology, the producer also has another possibility of rotating the chemical group of herbicides, high production potential and greater tolerance to diseases such as rice blast. Scursone details some points of this new technology. "Already this harvest we have implemented some pre-commercial areas in the main rice growing regions, and the control and tolerance results are very good, we are very happy with what we are witnessing in the field, and we are sure that this technology will greatly help the producer to seek profitability, combined with sustainability."

Rice farmer José Vilmar guarantees that he will use the seeds with the new technology on a larger scale. "Without a doubt, we are counting on this new development soon and we will use it in a considerable area of ​​the crop. It works very well and we believe in it a lot."