SLC Sementes reinforces investments in technology and automation

SLC Sementes, a brand that is part of SLC Agrícola, celebrates the first year of the Seed Analysis Laboratory (LAS), located at Fazenda Panorama (Bahia). The space, created in October 2023, was developed to facilitate the production, processing and sales processes, and is part of the company's plan to have a modern infrastructure for the development of analyses and assertive decision-making in the production process.

The laboratory was designed to process sample studies and has state-of-the-art greenhouses for real-time seedbed analysis. In 2024, SLC Sementes improved automation and continuous process improvement. The facility also features several innovations, such as closed germination rooms to accommodate a larger number of samples, a greenhouse for seedbed testing, and a pioneering traceability process on the market.

At the beginning of this year, after a rigorous process of quality control and staff training, LAS received accreditation from the Ministry of Agriculture (Mapa) with ISO 17.025, for laboratory analysis quality. With the completion of accreditation, SLC Sementes will focus on future prospects and the expansion of the site.

"The vectors surrounding agriculture are constantly changing and we have to keep up with this dynamic. That's why we are modernizing our laboratory to be able to enhance the decision-making process for choosing fields suitable for seeds," says João Vanin, Seed Production Manager at SLC Agrícola.

SLC Sementes was founded in 2018 as part of SLC Agrícola's strategy to diversify and add value. Constantly expanding, the company sold 1,02 million bags of soybean seeds and 130 bags of cotton – numbers above expectations – last year alone. By 2024, SLC Sementes expects to sell around 1,25 million bags of soybean seeds and 143 bags of cotton seeds.

To meet the growing market demand, rigorous quality tests are adopted to guarantee the purity, viability and performance of the inputs in the field. In addition, the cultivars are certified and traceable, thus enabling greater credibility and results for rural producers.

"Adding value to a commodity is a challenge, but if we have a certified seed, it consequently has greater production potential. Added to this is the fact that it can be tracked, from when it leaves the field until it is shipped to the end customer. This creates an environment of trust between buyers and sellers, which in turn allows for better conditions in negotiations," explains Vanin.

The entire production chain benefits from practices that result in added value for farmers and this is one of the main purposes of SLC Sementes, which adopts ESG concepts throughout the entire process of developing agricultural technologies.

“Our approach is focused on rural producers and the development of more productive, sustainable and profitable agriculture”, adds the Director of Supplies, Seeds and Mechanization at SLC Agrícola, Gustavo Lunardi.