In 2006, the local Bayer CropScience manager learned about the mobile treaters used by the Bayer CropScience country organizations in Australia and South Africa. Much impressed by this concept, he asked seed treatment experts at Bayer CropScience headquarters for support. Together, they adapted the mobile solution to Colombian conditions. From the next sowing season onwards, two mobile treaters will be giving rice crops in Colombia the right start.
Customized solutions
The technological requirements for seed treatment vary, depending on the crop to be sown, and local conditions of seed production and marketing. Most seeds are dressed by seed companies or agro-traders. But in some parts of the world, the infrastructure does not yet allow for centralized, high-tech treatment. Bayer CropScience’s seed treatment experts cater to different customers, from large companies supplying the international market, to individual farmers. A global network of about 100 seed-treatment specialists offers far more than the products themselves: they advise, train and assist in technological matters.
STAC - The knowledge hub
Within this global network, the Seed Treatment Application Center (STAC) in Monheim, Germany serves as a knowledge hub. The STAC engineers tutor both Bayer CropScience seed-treatment managers from the country organizations and their key customers in state-of-the-art technology. In addition, the STAC technicians are constantly testing machinery and in-house-produced seed treatment products. They examine the product distribution and seed loading of different application technologies. They also design new testing methods. Using their first-hand experience with machines from all of the major manufacturers, the STAC technicians will identify a suitable seed treatment solution. In many cases though, the responsible local seed treatment managers can handle customer requests on their own. Bayer CropScience sets a high value on training marketing staff in technological issues.
Coating, pelleting and Co.
When it comes to film coatings, Bayer CropScience can turn to an internal supplier. Cérès Seed Technology laboratories (based in France) have developed a multitude of different coatings as well as pelletings. Pelleting makes seeds uniform in size, shape and weight so that they can be precision-sown with drilling machines. These layers - seed dressings, coats, colorants, and sometimes also fertilizers - must not hamper the germination or growth of the seedling. Therefore, germination trials at Bayer CropScience test what experts call the “seed safety” of a formulation. At the same time, the plantability of seeds and the effectiveness of a treatment application rate are evaluated in the field.
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