b'PARTNER CONTENTBuilding a Better Seed Treatment:Perfecting the Recipe for Field-Ready SuccessS eed treatments are an increasingly critical tool in farmers toolkits, pro-tecting and supporting seeds through their vulnerable and critical germination and early emergence phases. Todays seed treatments can be complicated recipes that include fungicides, insecticides, inoculants, colorants, polymers, nema-ticides and, increasingly, biologicals and biostimulants. Building a single highly effective seed treatment product from these various components isnt as easy as simply combining ingredients in a blender, however. For each and every seed treat-ment it brings to market, seed treatment industry leader Corteva Agriscience invests in extensive product screening and testing. This ensures that, when multiple ingredi-ents are combined into a treatment recipe, each component retains its efficacy, the complete recipe offers the practical func-tionality that farmers require, and the final product offers one more key deliverable: The seed treatment recipes we bring to producers needs to be better than theWe develop and test hundreds of dif- the recipe is evaluated for slurry compat-sum of all its ingredient parts, says Rachelferent recipe concepts each year, saysibility, application properties, dry down, Woods, US Technical Services ManagerWoods. As the different formulationsflowability, abrasion and dust-off. Then it with Corteva. come through our CSAT labs, we haveprogresses through larger scale lab testing, Back in 2015, Corteva invested in seedthe capacity to conduct a truly intensivefirst in an environmental chamber to mimic treatments as a product offering and builtreview. It might be a great combination inreal world treating and planting conditions, its first Center for Seed Applied Technolo- theory, but if we see any separation in theand then in a larger scale test that mimics gies (CSAT) in Johnston, Iowa. Part labo- slurry, any excessive build-up in equip- commercial application and planting envi-ratory, part testing center and part seedment or any other issue that would nega- ronments. At all stages, the individual prod-treating plant, the Johnston CSAT wastively impact the customer experience, weucts must successfully function together designed to allow the Corteva technicalsend it back to the drawing board. Our goaland provide the right level of protection for services team a facility to conduct compre- and commitmentand what these facili- each seed as it germinates. Its a significant hensive seed treatment development andties allow us to deliver onis a positiveinvestment but one Woods says makes all testing at commercial scale. Since then,customer experience.the difference. Corteva has expanded its CSAT capacityThe development process testing startsFarmers have a really tough job. They by building additional primary centers inby assessing growers needs and thenneed technology and solutions that work, Formosa, Brazil and Aussonne, France,evaluating novel active ingredients. CortevaWoods says. What drives me is helping as well as six regional CSAT laboratories.sources the very best ingredients availableidentify the key gaps and opportunities Whereas the three primary centers focusboth by leveraging its own R&D pipelinethat will make a difference for farmers. As on large-scale development and testing ofand by sourcing partner products. Once aa global leader in this space, we have the seed treatment formulations, the regionalconcept recipe is designed, the testing phaseopportunity to innovate. Its really exciting centers aim to meet the unique seed ap- evaluates every step a seed treatment mustto deliver the kind of value that will help plied technology testing and trialing needsundergo from commercial treating facilityfarmers be successful and give them added of specific growing regions.to farmers fields. It begins in the lab, whereconfidence for the crop year ahead.DECEMBER 2024SEEDWORLD.COM /59'