Syngenta Crop Protection’s Seedcare business has recently unveiled VICTRATO, a novel technology with a combination of nematode and disease control for growers looking to increase the quality and yield of their crops and support the long-term health of their soil
According to Syngenta, VICTRATO contains TYMIRIUM technology, which provides long-lasting protection against all plant-parasitic nematodes and key fungal diseases across major crops, including soybeans, corn, cereals, cotton, and rice. Nematodes – a parasitic species that feed on the root or the plant, to deplete it of nutrients – are present in almost all agricultural soils, attacking crops and opening a path to further fungal infection. The company reports that the parasite can have a devastating impact, with yield losses of up to 12% globally per year, equating to an estimated loss of US$150bn every year.
Syngenta says that one of the biggest challenges farmers face in managing crop-damaging nematodes is the invisible nature of the problem. The company’s Seedcare is said to have screening capabilities and mapping systems that enable the detection of the presence of nematodes in key markets, including Brazil, the US, China and throughout APAC. This work, in combination with VICTRATO, aims to help farmers identify and address nematode problems to deliver productivity improvements.
VICTRATO enables plants to optimise water and nutrient uptake while increasing stress tolerance and yield, delivering a greater return on investment for the farmer. By protecting the roots, the said product plays a critical part in enabling no-tillage and conservation-tillage practices and helps preserve biodiversity by not harming beneficial insects, pollinators and microflora. This favourable sustainability profile provides farmers with the option to replace older technologies.
Jonathan Brown, global head of Syngenta Seedcare, said, “We are excited to be adding VICTRATO to our broad portfolio. Syngenta Seedcare was the first to develop a modern nematode seed treatment, with AVICTA, and now with this new product, we are taking our efforts to combat nematodes to the next level. VICTRATO has an easy-to-use formulation that provides consistent performance without adverse effects to crop or soil health, giving farmers the freedom to maximise their yields without having to compromise on sustainability.”
Camilla Corsi, global head, Syngenta Crop Protection Research, said, “We are investing significantly in soil health at Syngenta Crop Protection and the development of VICTRATO is a major step forward in this space and the result of our focused seed treatment research programme. Our unique capability to design and screen pipeline leads for nematode control, enables us to develop products that address key crop issues while delivering safe and convenient solutions for farmers.”
According to Syngenta, VICTRATO was launched at the ISF World Seed Congress in Barcelona, Spain. It is registered in El Salvador, with registration expected in Argentina in 2022 and additional registrations across a broad range of crops expected globally over the next five years.
