VIXERAN® enables farmers to optimize nitrogen fertilizer use and transition to more sustainable on-farm practices
Syngenta Crop Protection and Ceres Biotics have entered into an agreement aimed at increasing farmer access to VIXERAN® in order to optimize nitrogen fertilizer use globally.
VIXERAN® offers farmers greater flexibility in their nitrogen management strategies and optimizes crop performance in two key ways: it complements standard nitrogen fertilization programs to effectively boost yield potential beyond traditional methods, and, in situations where nitrogen availability is reduced due to environmental factors or supply constraints, VIXERAN® can help farmers maintain their yield targets.
VIXERAN® is an innovative biostimulant based on the endophytic bacteria Azotobacter salinestris strain number CECT9690, meaning the microbes can inhabit internal tissues of plants without causing disease. The biostimulant features multiple modes of action, enabling the plant to efficiently access nitrogen available from the environment through its leaves and root system. VIXERAN® is designed to complement traditional nitrogen fertilizers.
Synthetic nitrogen fertilizer is energy-intensive and costly to produce, and its widespread use increases greenhouse gas emissions and lowers agriculture’s sustainability. As the most abundant, naturally-occurring gas, nitrogen is essential to plants’ growth, leaf area expansion, and biomass yield production. However, plants cannot readily obtain nitrogen from the environment.
Jonathan Brown, Global Head Seed care and Biologicals, said: “Syngenta is investing significantly to bring the most innovative biological solutions to farmers around the world. Biostimulants that boost crop nutrient use efficiency have a significant role in strengthening the sustainabiilty of agriculture, and are integral to Syngenta’s efforts to improve both crop yields and soil health.”
Emilio Marin, CEO and co-founder of Ceres Biotics, highlights: “ VIXERAN® will be accessible to farmers globally, and this is a big step towards building up more sustainable crop management systems”.
The agreement follows an earlier collaboration to launch VIXERAN® in the European Union. Under the current agreement, VIXERAN will be introduced to markets globally.
