Petrolina
A nature reserve in a breeding station
After two days at the South American Breeders Meeting, the local team in Petrolina surprised the participants with the inauguration of a five hectare nature reserve within the station.
In addition to the 20 percent Legal Reserve of land each farmer is mandated by law to set aside as a nature reserve. the station in Petrolina decided to renature about five hectares of land within the station by planting more than 500 plants representing species naturally growing in the area and adapted to the semi-arid tropical conditions, providing an additional piece in the patchwork of natural habitats for fauna and flora.
The entrance to the preserve is marked by two nicely designed metal information tables that explain the historical background of the legal preservation laws and some animals visitors might encounter in these protected habitats.
Legal reserves to maintain biodiversity have been mandated by Brazilian Forest code since 1934, and, as defined in the current 2012 version of the law, range from 80 percent in the Amazon to 35 percent in the Amazon-Cerrado Transition to 20 percent in all other areas.
Our new station in Petrolina lies in the middle of a huge irrigation project almost exclusively used for fruit (mango, grape, papaya) production, formally requiring 20 percent of Legal Reserve. The additional five hectares will help provide more valuable habitats for native plants and wildlife. |
Brazil
Ten years of corn breeding
The annual South American Breeders Meeting on November 18-21, 2022, hosted by our new breeding station in Petrolina – celebrating the 10th Anniversary of KWS Corn Breeding activities in Brazil – brought together breeders, product-, project- and station managers from Brazil and Argentina as well as members of the KWS BTA group in Einbeck. In his opening presentation, Marcello Salles, our regional CEO South America, laid out the framework of historical accomplishments and future needs. The meeting included informative and intense discussions regarding new market developments and needs as well as product and technology performance. |
© KWS SAAT SE & Co. KGaA 2025
