Canadian ‘snowbirds’ like to escape the harsh winter by heading south to warmer climates. Sometimes seeds get to be snowbirds as well, but they don’t get a vacation — they get put to work!
Crop research is a vital but lengthy process to get new varieties into producers’ fields. Some seed breeders are accelerating that process with contra-season growing – sending their material south of the equator to be tested in what would typically be the winter off-season. They get the advantage of their product going to market more quickly.
Every Seed Matters. When you’re looking for a seed nursery service for contra-season trials, you need to ensure your international team understands your needs and has the facilities and expertise to give you the best chance at a successful contra-season trial. The geographical location should offer the climate your crop needs and have low risk of disease.
CIS Alliance is a joint venture between U.S.-based Gro Alliance and Chile-based CIS Agro, offering industry-leading seed nursery services near Santiago, Chile. I’m a snowbird in the opposite direction. Right now, I’m in the United States escaping the Chilean winter. This also gives me an opportunity to visit my North American clients and spend time with the people at Gro Alliance.
We have worked with over 20 crop types including row crops, cereals, oilseeds and vegetables, and we are set up to do everything from yield trials to purity trials to seed multiplication in isolation cages.
Chile is an excellent country for agriculture. It is long and narrow with mountains to one side, the ocean to the other, and a desert to the north. This geographical isolation means we have reduced incidents of plant disease, and government regulations ensure imported plant material is carefully screened.
Near Santiago it is very dry in the summer, meaning there is low risk of fungal infections. We precisely control moisture with drip irrigation, so you see the full potential of your crops with ideal conditions and no disease pressure.
Trust, transparency and communication are the backbone of a successful contra-season trial experience for our clients.
We welcome them to visit. Some stay for the duration of the trial, enjoying Chile’s summer climate and participating in the process. That way they get to be snowbirds along with their seeds.
