- Corteva Agriscience has just opened a seed treatment lab in Rosslyn, Pretoria in South Africa.
- The facility named Centre for Seed Applied Technologies (CSAT) will focus specifically on recipe development and safety testing of seed-applied solutions.
- The CSAT facility will undertake the treatment of seeds by applying chemical or biological substances such as fungicides or insecticides to seed surfaces. The treatments then help in safeguarding the seeds and seedlings against insects, fungal diseases and soil-borne pathogens.
Why it matters
According to the FAO, close to 40% of annual agricultural produce is lost to pests and diseases globally. This translates into an annual $220 billion loss to the global economy from plant diseases alone. Pests cost the economy an estimated $70 billion globally.
The losses in billions show just how vital solutions such as seed treatment are in reducing yield loss. A US study by APS Publications also showed that treating soybean seeds with the fungicide fluopyram, reduces production losses by an estimated 46.4%.
Treatments further allow for an efficient and targeted use of active ingredients. This means that fewer pesticides can be used, helping to preserve biodiversity and pollinators, and promote sustainable agriculture.
