UPL invested US$500 – equivalent to R$2,5 million – in expanding and modernizing its research and development center in Pereiras, in the interior of São Paulo. The unit now has seven laboratories and will contribute to generating innovation in phytosanitary defense and biosolutions for Brazilian and global agriculture, becoming the company's global nematode R&D center.
"Brazil is one of the largest food producers, it has the area, climate and water to further contribute to increasing global supply. UPL intensifies investments in the country, reinforcing its innovation base, in line with its OpenAg strategy. The center development company in Pereiras becomes a reference in nematodes and will contribute not only to the validation of technologies for the Brazilian market, but also for global supply", explains Mike Frank, president and global COO of UPL, who came to Brazil for the inauguration of the research Center.
The unit occupies an area of 70 hectares, has 30 dedicated professionals and was completely remodeled, now offering modern and complete laboratories for entomology, phytopathology, herbicides, nematology, seed treatment, application technology and product handling. There are five more laboratories than in the previous structure, which already had areas for studying insects (entomology) and manipulation, in addition to carrying out experimental research.
"The center simulates a commercial property and traditional growing conditions. This environment allows us to efficiently test the performance of our global solutions, which are developed at the OpenAg Center, in the United States. Improving this process is the guarantee that the products offered farmers have excellent results in the field", highlights Rogério Castro, CEO of UPL Brasil.
Castro highlights that the expansion of the research center reinforces UPL's commitment to the Brazilian and global agricultural market. "Through our OpenAg concept, we are effectively transforming ourselves into a company open to innovation and partnerships to reimagine sustainability. With this, we contribute on several fronts, such as cost rationalization for producers, crop quality, reduction of environmental impacts and increasing the food supply to meet the planet's growing demand."
UPL has nine global research and development centers. In addition to Pereiras, the company has a unit in Ituverava (SP), two in India and others distributed across Spain, Indonesia, England, Mexico and Vietnam.
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