New seed varieties, developments and strategies to tackle increasing challenges for the UK market are the subject of a vegetable open day at Surfleet, Lincolnshire.
The Syngenta event is being held on October 11th & 12th. Plots will include Syngenta summer broccoli. The new varieties, which will go into full field scale evaluation trials in the UK next year, have shown exceptional vigour and consistent performance for fresh cut and manufacturing markets.
Syngenta vegetable Seeds brassica specialist, Louis Stokes, highlights the new summer varieties will give growers the consistency of supply through to the onset of harvesting of the company’s market leading autumn variety, Beany.
Also on show will be spinach varieties resistant to the recently declared new races of bremia downy mildew affecting crops across Europe.
“Disease resistance is an increasing area of attention for growers and an essential part of integrated control strategies,” advocated Louis. “In both spinach and lettuce varieties the Syngenta breeders are successfully working to keep ahead of new strains.”
Additional disease resistance trials in savoy cabbage will demonstrate the comparative value of varietal clubroot, white blister and ringspot resistance, and how that can be utilised in adding resilience and flexibility within the season’s fungicide programme.
The plots will give a first look at a new Syngenta fungicide specifically designed for disease control in brassica crops, which builds on the success of Orondis disease control in salads and onion crops.
Syngenta is also now looking to extend its reputation and rigour of research in crop protection products to the development of proven biostimulant technologies. Trial plots on the site have been assessing the potential for stress relief in brassica crops, along with combination of endophyte technologies designed to enhance nitrogen uptake and efficiency.
“Broccoli growers experienced the worst impacts of the intense heat stress effects last year,” notes crop protection Technical Manager Simon Jackson. “The implication of changing climate is that we are going to get hit by more frequent and more intense stress events in the future. These trials are seeking ways for growers to build in greater resilience against the worst effects, with greater efficiency from inputs and more consistent results in stressful seasons.”
With increasing interest in regenerative agriculture among growers, retailers and policymakers, the Vegetable Seeds Innovation Centre site this year has a demonstration and discussion point on the use of green mulch to suppress weed growth and benefit agronomy in the following crop. Also on show will be habitat creation initiatives that have been adopted by multi-national food companies to help their suppliers support and promote native pollinators and biodiversity, as well as protect soil and water resources.
Syngenta specialists from Europe and the UK covering brassica crops, leafy salads, crop protection, application technology and sustainable agriculture will all be on hand to discuss the latest developments and future potential.
Lincolnshire machinery designers and manufacturers, Grimme, will also be demonstrating some of the company’s latest developments for vegetable crop growing and harvesting – giving visitors the chance to see equipment in action and discuss its role in more efficient production of quality produce.
“Syngenta is committed to investing and supporting the vegetable sector in the UK, with new developments and sustainable technologies,” said Louis Stokes. “The Innovation Centre Open Days are a showcase of our work with growers and an invaluable opportunity for customers to see what’s on the horizon. We look forward to welcoming them to the event.”
You can find out more about this event here: UK Vegetable Seeds Innovation Centre Open Day 2023 | Syngenta
