SMART networking to push regional success

Ukraine and Moldova were among the very first countries to launch the CS technology in growing season 2018; Belarus followed in 2019. Valuable experience with the new system of efficient weed control in sugarbeet cultivation has been gained and shared with regional countries where the registration of the CS system was not yet completed. In 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic, KWS RUS organized a Microsoft Teams live event to launch the CS technology in Russia. Invited colleagues from Ukraine and Belarus talked about what they have learned in using the system. Apart from this fruitful exchange, the success of the CS technology in Eastern Europe is driven by a motivated team committed to implementation of stewardship* measures in close relationship with the farmers.

Moldova

by Octavian Boubatrin and Evghenii Zuza

CONVISO^® SMART was launched in Moldova in 2018 and, in the first year of its introduction, more than 2000 units of SMART varieties have been delivered to KWS customers. Since that time, the CS technology share has grown gradually and reached more than 50% of the market in 2021. First of all, with the convenience of the technology, which significantly optimizes the farmer's work in terms of weed control, it became a reliable solution especially since our legal framework follows the EU objective to reduce the range of active ingredients. Another success factor is the image of KWS as an innovative company and the trust of customers toward KWS genetics and solutions. We have already achieved good results, but we still have many challenges ahead. To stay successful in the market we have to remain well connected with our customers by providing competitive genetics and agroservice support in order to ensure accurate implementation of the CS technology.

Ukraine

by Darya Perederiy and Andriy Novak

In the 2021 sowing campaign, CONVISO^® SMART hybrids represent nearly 25% of total Ukrainian sugarbeet seed market value. Less herbicide and greater flexibility of weed control due to a larger time window for herbicide application are the benefits of the CS system. We not only see that the quantity of herbicide active ingredient is less, but also – and more importantly – it saves time and reduces dependency on agronomists’ expertise in order to secure a crop free of weeds until the harvest campaign. Farmers who try CS once continue with this technology. KWS technical experts in Ukraine give full-time assistance to farmers during the whole growing process: from sowing till harvesting. Moreover, Ukrainian CS farmers use a separate website with practical experience content, application guidance and tips, useful contacts and informational materials.

Belarus

by Andrei Shyrkevich

Since the start of the 2019 sowing campaign, the number of farms cultivating SB using the CS technology has increased from 31 to 97 (380 in total). Specialists describe the system as easy to use but at the same time reliable and highly efficient. Before the market launch in 2019, large scale trials were done in the 2017 and 2018 growing seasons in the main SB growing zone of the country. The main benefits of CS technology compared to classic weed protection were identified. In 2019, training on the proper use of CS technology on SB fields was held for chief agronomists, agronomists and even tractor drivers as well as other specialists in agronomic services. In 2020-2021 the technology implementation strategy and its agroservice changed because of COVID-19. Instead of on-site seminars, there was only direct cooperation with the client and demonstration of the product advantages to the neighboring farms. Working more closely with the client made it possible to promote the system more effectively. In social media we provide tutorials on the CS technology and reports from the fields.

Russia

by Alexej Borel and Andrey Liubimov

Since 2017, the KWS RUS team has been actively preparing for the launch of CS technology in 2021. Registration of the first experimental hybrid 4K446 in 2016 was a first crucial step to enable Bayer to start the registration of CONVISO^® ONE, which was completed successfully in autumn of 2020. Commercial launch preparations started in 2019 with meetings with clients and visits to other countries to show the technology in the field. After the first sowing campaign with CS varieties this year, many clients have seen high seed quality and fast germination of CS hybrids, which in combination with minimum phytotoxicity creates a huge advantage for the CS hybrids over conventional hybrids. Climatic conditions in 2021 are favorable for demonstration of advantages of CS technology: Heavy rains in the South and Central black soil parts of Russia narrowed the spraying window significantly for an average of four classic herbicide applications, when CS needs only two and effectively works against overgrown weeds. So far we have limited experiences with the CS system under very dry conditions in Russia; we will continue to fine-tune our recommendations for dry conditions based on the result of broad-scale trials. The stewardship measurements are on a very high level. Everything is under the control of our agroservice and sales team. We are planning to make a series of tutorial videos about CS at the KWS R&D Station and the KWS RUS Agricultural Competencies Center. Furthermore, video interviews with key customers giving feedback on CS are ready for publication on the YouTube channel of KWS RUS.

As CONVISO^® SMART technology has been introduced in all Eastern European markets a new phase will start, increasing market penetration and further growth of the system. Key elements in enabling further growth are: continued improvements of new SMART hybrids, services and digital tools but also a change in the mindset of especially large agroholdings. Clear stewardship targets have been defined in order to ensure sustainable and long-term use of the CS system. Since KWS and Bayer granted the first licenses for herbicide-tolerant sugarbeet to SESVanderHave as well as Betaseed, SES entered the Moldova market in 2021 with its own CONVISO^® SMART products; market entry in all EE markets is expected for 2022. |

To the CONVISO® SMART website

* Fixed goals and objectives for the proper use of the system