Farmers worldwide are poised to benefit from a agreement between Syngenta Crop Protection and Ceres Biotics. The collaboration aims to expand access to VIXERAN, an innovative biological solution that enhances nitrogen use efficiency in crops. As agriculture faces increasing sustainability challenges, this partnership represents a significant step toward reducing dependence on synthetic nitrogen fertilizers while maintaining high crop yields.
The Science Behind VIXERAN: Harnessing Nature for Better Yields
At the heart of VIXERAN is Azotobacter salinestris strain CECT9690, an endophytic bacteria that colonizes plant tissues without causing harm. This microbe plays a crucial role in optimizing nitrogen absorption, helping plants efficiently access this essential nutrient through both their leaves and root systems. Unlike conventional fertilizers that rely on industrial production, VIXERAN provides a natural and sustainable way to support plant growth and productivity.
Nitrogen is vital for plant processes such as growth, leaf-area expansion, and biomass production. Despite making up about 78% of the Earth’s atmosphere, plants cannot directly absorb atmospheric nitrogen, requiring farmers to apply synthetic fertilizers. However, industrial nitrogen production is an energy-intensive and costly process, contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. By introducing biological alternatives like VIXERAN, farmers can reduce their reliance on synthetic fertilizers while promoting more sustainable agricultural practices.
Industry Leaders Speak on the Future of Biostimulants
Jonathan Brown, Global Head of Seedcare and Biologicals at Syngenta, emphasized the company’s commitment to investing in biological innovations:
“Syngenta is investing significantly to bring the most innovative biological solutions to farmers around the world. Biostimulants that boost the nutrient use efficiency of crops 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. We are excited to work with Ceres Biotics in this fast-evolving area of plant nutrition.”
Similarly, Emilio Marin, CEO and co-founder of Ceres Biotics, highlighted the transformative potential of this agreement:
“We are excited to collaborate with Syngenta to bring to the market novel and sustainable biostimulants that improve nutrient use efficiency and maximize yield helping farmers implement more sustainable agricultural practices. VIXERAN will be accessible to farmers globally, and this is a big step towards building up more sustainable crop management systems”.
A Versatile Solution for Modern Agriculture
VIXERAN offers farmers greater flexibility in managing nitrogen levels in their crops, providing benefits in two key areas:
- Enhancing Traditional Fertilization: When used alongside synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, VIXERAN helps maximize yield potential beyond conventional methods.
- Maintaining Yields in Challenging Conditions: If nitrogen availability is reduced due to environmental factors or supply chain disruptions, VIXERAN ensures crops continue to perform optimally, reducing farmers’ dependence on external inputs.
This strategic agreement builds on an earlier collaboration that introduced VIXERAN to the European Union market. With the new expansion, Syngenta and Ceres Biotics will now make the biostimulant accessible to farmers across multiple global regions, broadening its impact on sustainable agriculture.
A Step Toward a Greener Agricultural Future
As the agricultural sector faces mounting pressure to reduce environmental impact, biological innovations like VIXERAN present a promising path forward. By optimizing nitrogen use, this biostimulant helps farmers increase productivity while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reliance on synthetic fertilizers. The partnership between Syngenta and Ceres Biotics represents a transformational shift toward more sustainable farming practices worldwide.
With global access to VIXERAN on the horizon, farmers now have a powerful tool to support both productivity and environmental responsibility—ushering in a new era of sustainable agriculture.
