Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68EUROPEAN-SEED.COM I EUROPEAN SEED I 41 Do your sales and logistics managers depend on a specific report or spreadsheets provided by your production manager for up-to-date seed inventories, and then your accounting or administration department pulls that informa- tion over to another system or spreadsheet for invoicing and accounts receivable? Chances are you are working with multiple ‘solutions’ to piece together the information your business needs to function. While everything works on the surface, you leave yourself open to errors and create inefficiencies, resulting in a loss of productiv- ity. It might seem simple at first glance, but the challenges can go much deeper because each of these pieces has a ripple effect. For example, if your inventory records are inaccurate or out of date, and sales thinks you have something that you don’t, it could mean missing or having to reschedule deliveries. In some cases, inaccurate or untimely inventory data means orders can’t be fulfilled to the cus- tomer’s specifications, which can lead to returns and ultimately reduced margins and potential losses. In addition to inconveniencing the cus- tomer, it also means duplicating efforts and frustration from your staff. We know that the seed industry is com- plex and the vast amount of business infor- mation makes it difficult for even the most sophisticated companies to keep up. We know mobile technologies and business analytics that were once exclusively used by employ- VINCENT VENEZIALE Seed Solutions Product Manager Cultura Technologies BUSINESS MANAGEMENT Are You Disadvantaged Because of Disconnected Data? ees with specialized needs and skills are now common across the entire workforce. The seed industry is no different. In the seed industry, there’s the need to track seed growers and production, planted surface areas, crop species/varieties and grades, estimated and actual yields, seed lots, treatments, inventory, seed certification, roy- alty, field and lab analysis, sales, shipping and billing — be it in a smaller region or all around the world. If you had this data at your fingertips in an instant, would you make different decisions? And how much time would you save in making that decision? As I said earlier, we’ve seen an explosion in the amount of data and the increased ability to access this data via the use of technology. Integrating all the available data helps stream- line decision-making and business processes, making you more competitive. In the past two to three decades, soft- ware platforms have crept into every aspect of our lives, from banking to music, and from smartphones to controlling the thermostat and appliances in our homes. What would having all your business’ data points connected mean for you? What could you do that you haven’t been able to? What would your business look like? And how would that change interactions internally with employees and externally with customers and suppliers? MARTIN FAERBER Global Commercial Head Syngenta Seedcare There is perhaps no seed-related product more important today than seed treatment. These seed treatments can protect crops from pests and diseases to enhance early development, and they have come a long way since their early days in terms of both effectiveness and environmental friendliness. Seed treatment protects the investment of a farmer from the day of planting. In addition, it is the most convenient way of protecting the crop in the early days, and beyond that allows the most targeted use of active ingredients directly on the seed. Often I am asked what seed treatment is all about in the first place. Hence, it is important to create an understanding first on how the technology can help to be efficient in active ingredient use as well as in targeting specific pests and diseases. It is perhaps more important than ever for industry stakeholders to be able to effectively communicate the value of seed treatment. Seed treatment is becoming increasingly important as part of the offer for farmers to achieve best results with their crops. At the same time there is a lot of public debate SEED TREATMENT AND STEWARDSHIP How Can You Communicate the Importance of Seed Treatment? around seed treatment solutions — hence it is vital to share facts and to inform the wider public in order to dispel the fiction that is sometimes promoted by groups that are opposed to this technology. In an environment where the seed’s value is getting increasingly higher, it is key for growers to have seed treatment as an insurance mechanism to protect their investments and to give them peace of mind in the early days of plant establishment. In their early days, plants are very vulnerable — and seed treatment protects them against pests and diseases where no foliar application can yet be applied. I have seen fields that have not been treated that have literally been “wiped out” by a pest or a disease, while the field next door that has been treated had a solid stand and looked healthy. Seed treatment plays an important role for the seed industry as it represents billions in annual turnover, but more importantly is at the heart of business strategies aiming to intelligently combine seeds and crop protection offers for customers.