b'PARTNER CONTENTSEED APPLIED TECHNOLOGIESCSATWe Develop the Seed Treatments You Need!NILCELI FERNANDES Lead - Seed Applied Technologies CenterCorteva Climate Change Means Breeders Create Corn Grain Hybrids Adapted to Evolving ConditionsA s an agricultural community, farmersfor a farmer is resilience and yield stability, and industry are at the preceipe ofGuillaume says. Theres nothing worse for a major environmental changes. Withfarmer than a bad year with bad yields, espe-climate change ever-looming, the way farm- cially now when input costs are rising steeply. ers grow crops, and the hybrids and varietiesConsistency across a wide range of they plant, are due for an update. changing weather conditions is paramount Corn is the third largest crop in theto farmer success.Ukraine, after cereals and sunflower, saysWe test products all across Europe Sergiy Tymoshenko, MAS Seeds Marketso we can help with product placement Manager, Ukraine. We grow more than fiveto improve yield reliability for the farmer, million hectares of corn, mainly for grain,Guillaume says. We dont just sell to the which makes Ukraine the biggest corn pro- farmers; we want to help them at every step ducer in continental Europe. to make sure theyre placing hybrids where Ukrainian farmers are looking forField evaluation at emergence at MAS Seeds theyre best adapted to whatever climatic hybrids with high yield potential and goodscenario a farmer might be facing.stability, he continues. We use little irrigationTo help with product placement, the and our climate can bring long periods of heatteam at MAS Seeds provides technical infor-and drough during the summerthis is whymation about each of their varieties, includ-drought tolerance is so important. genotypes in terms of the plants ability toing information such as which hybrids are keep a higher degree of moistureit makesbest suited for water stress. MANAGE ENVIRONMENTALa big difference in yields, Guillaume says.The WATERLOCK hybrids are very suit-STRESS THROUGH GENETICS Some of the changes were breeding forable to help corn producer maximize yield Understanding changing environmental con- because of climate change are surprising.and profitability, Sergiy says. ditions is no easy task. Add measuring cropFor example, we anticipate the farmer will tryThe team also provides tips for irrigating responses to those conditions on top of thatto sow crops earlier to avoid big heat stressbased on research to know how to maximize and its data overload. However, breedersand water stress at flowering. Because thereturn on that input includes data about har-do this every day to measure genetic abilitiessummers are hotter at critical times, it makesvest timing by hybrid. with respect to an evolving climate. sense to plant earlier. This means the plantWe know farmers are already adapt-We look at the past 20 years and try tomust be cold tolerant in the early season ing as the climate changestheyre very determine what the weather pattern for thewhich seems counterintuitive when the latesmart, Guillaume says. Our goal is to meet next 10 will be, Colin Guillaume, MAS Seedssummer is hotter. Its a paradox that breed- their efforts by providing the highest quality Head of Corn Breeding, says. We know nowers manage every day at MAS Seeds. genetics adapted to specific climates and how to pay special attention in drought yearsFrom physiological characteristics tomanagement styles to minimize stress and because the new normal will be drier condi- quantitative measures such as yield, MASmaximize yields.tions overall, for example. Seeds breeders say theyre keeping a closeMAS Seeds recently invested in a The breeding team tracks climatic con- eye on genetics by environment to maximizetropical corn breeding program based in ditions at each trial center and measures theyields for tomorrow. This breeding work hasMexico to increase their germplasm pool crops response by yield at the end of theled to the creation of the WATERLOCK grainand include parental lines already adapted season. This separates the winners and thecorn genetic, resilient hybrids with high toler- to harsher, hotter and dryer conditions. This losers when it comes to managing abioticance to drought. addition, and their recent expansion into stressors such as drought and heat. Africa, reaffirms their commitment to breed-Were studying evapotranspirationMITIGATE RISKS IN UNCERTAINTY ing corn that is equipped in the face of cli-because theres a clear difference in theOne of the most important things we can offermate change.EUROPEAN-SEED.COMIEUROPEAN SEED I 33'