Betaseed GmbH has decided to adopt the new sugabeet cultivation system CONVISO® SMART developed by Bayer AG and KWS SAAT SE. Bayer AG and KWS SAAT SE provided Betaseed GmbH access to develop and commercialize herbicide tolerant sugarbeet varieties using the CONVISO® SMART technology in markets outside North America.
Sugarbeet growers are going to realize many benefits from this partnership:
- CONVISO® SMART meets high standards in current weed control and provides growers with additional benefits in difficult-to-control weeds and grass control.
- The technology allows for a wider application window and offers more flexibility in application timing.
- Less applications will be required compared to current weed control standards. This will enable time savings and less use of herbicides.
The CONVISO® SMART technology is based on the classical breeding of sugarbeet varieties that are tolerant to herbicides in the ALS-inhibitor class with broad-spectrum weed control. Classic breeding techniques are used to integrate the tolerance to ALS-inhibitors into the breeding programs.
Betaseed will initially focus to enter variety candidates in registration trials in Switzerland, Germany, Italy and Poland and apply for the necessary registrations.
“We are very pleased to cooperate with Betaseed as we are sure the company will be a strong and competent partner in materializing the benefits of CONVISO® SMART to growers all over Europe and in other parts of the world," says Sabine Stolz, Global Segment Manager Soy, Oilseed Rape and Sugarbeet Herbicides at Bayer’s Crop Science Division.
“CONVISO® SMART offers innovative weed control and many benefits to farmers. The novel combination of weed control technology and genetics expands grower’s choices and will help advance the productivity of sugarbeet growing.”, says Dr. Tobias Huth, Managing Director of Betaseed GmbH. “Betaseed looks forward to bringing the CONVISO® SMART technology to growers as early as 2020.”
“The decision of Betaseed underlines the value of CONVISO® SMART in providing a novel choice in weed control and convenience to sugarbeet growers and allowing for highly effective weed control with lower herbicide volumes and reduced application frequency, adds Dr. Peter Hofmann, member of the Executive Board of KWS. “We aim to maintain the highest level of competitiveness of sugar beet amidst all sweeteners.”
About Betaseed
Betaseed is the leading sugarbeet breeder from North America and a strong partner to growers and industry partners around the globe. Betaseed’s objective is to make sugarbeet growing easier and more productive by providing high yielding sugarbeet crops and tolerance packages in exceptional quality and by supporting customers with new impulses, tools and concepts beyond seed. Customers trust Betaseed to provide them with knowledge, variety performance and timely responses to technical operating questions in order to achieve the highest possible revenue for their operation. Further information about Betaseed can be found on www.betaseed.com
About Bayer
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the Life Science fields of health care and agriculture. Its products and services are designed to benefit people and improve their quality of life. At the same time, the Group aims to create value through innovation, growth and high earning power. Bayer is committed to the principles of sustainable development and to its social and ethical responsibilities as a corporate citizen. In fiscal 2016, the Group employed around 99.600 people and had sales of EUR 34.9 billion. Capital expenditures amounted to EUR 2.2 billion, R&D expenses to EUR 4.4 billion. For more information, go to www.bayer.com.
About KWS
KWS is one of the world's leading plant breeding companies. In fiscal 2016/17, 4.950 employees in 70 countries generated net sales of EUR 1.080 million and earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of EUR 132 million. A company with a tradition of family ownership, KWS has operated independently for more than 160 years. It focuses on plant breeding and the production and sale of seed for corn, sugarbeet, cereals, rapeseed and sunflowers. KWS uses leading-edge plant breeding methods to continuously improve yield and resistance to diseases, pests and abiotic stress. To that end, the company invested EUR 190 million last fiscal year in research and development, 17 percent of its net sales. For more information: www.kws.com
Contact:
Betaseed GmbH:
Stefanie Hardt, Tel: +49 69 244333155, E-Mail: shardt@betaseed.com
Bayer AG:
Claudia Karsten, Tel. +49 2173 383531, E-Mail: claudia.karsten@bayer.com
KWS SAAT SE:
Stephan Krings, Tel. +49 5561 311-1540, E-mail: stephan.krings@kws.com
