b'Besides this, we also send a weekly report of each field with all the information and pictures, explained de la Sotta. Last season, we had started a pilot project and this season we are also running all of our fields with a satellite monitoring platform. In this way our farmers, field staff and customers can check by themselves the vigor index of each field during all seasons, all developmental stages, etc. We have also improved our information system in order to give our customers full transparency and the most updated information.Timely PaperworkMario Schindler, executive director of ANPROS, stresses that as COVID-19 has delayed logisticsGro Alliance offers a joint venture in Chile called CIS Alliance in tandem with CIS all over the world, as an association, ANPROS hasSemillas.been stressing that everything must be done more in advance than usual.Our field and site operations required some Sending the seed as soon as possible toextra resources and adjustments, but overall, we Chile is one of the main challenges, as well as allwere able to keep lead times and efficiencies, the planning must be done, Schindler says. Wereports Yuri Charme, Bayers head of product have been working with our authorities in order tosupply for Latin American Vegetables, Seeds implement different actions for speeding up everyand Chile Row Crops. It was absolutely key toIntense and process regarding seed movement, such as a jointempower people to look for creative solutions and working group ANPROS-SAG (SAG is the Chileanmake fast decisions to adapt to new situations. systematic Ministry of Agriculture) thats monitoring everySome challenges in phytosanitary or customs single potential problem. ANPROS and ANPROS- clearance and air cargo availability delayed somecoordination in SAG is in constant communication with customs,business operations during the first few weeks ofthe whole internal for example. the pandemic, but Charme says regulators, part-ANPROS has sent inquiries to the govern- ners and vendors adapted quickly.and external ment regarding travel restrictions and how theA very important tool in this arena has beensupply chain, more seed community can deal with these, workingthe digitalization of processes, documents and on making it possible for required personnel toauthorizations, something that will remain withthan usual, was enter the country. ANPROS is also collaborat- us, he says. Besides [all this], Id say intense and ing with the authorities to digitize the paperworksystematic coordination in the whole internalfundamental. This related to seed movement for seed certificationand external supply chain, more than usual, wasallowed anticipation and phytosanitary certification. Chile already hasfundamental. This allowed anticipation of potential the e-Phyto (electronic phytosanitary certificate)scenarios so that we were ready to apply actionof potential scenarios system in place with the U.S., Argentina, EU coun- plans to overcome situations. so that we were tries and others.BASFs experience has also been smooth. Nicols Sahli, CEO at Chilean agricultural firmBecause the seed business in Chile is recognizedready to apply action CIS Agro, thinks ANPROS has done a great jobas strategically important, teams at BASF andplans to overcome coordinating with Customs, SAG and other Chileanother firms have been permitted to move between authorities to expedite the movements of seed andregions as needed with special permits, along withsituations. moving to electronic documentation continues. Hissocial distancing and the use of masks. advice to his counterparts echoes that of Schindler.With respect to this, BASF local team mem-Yuri CharmeAct in advance, Sahli says, plan more and bebers are visiting the fields, taking notes, videos or rigorous with documentation to avoid unforcedpictures, explains lia de Domnech, BASF global mistakes. head of communications for vegetable seeds.If you have tips or stories to share about your Other Firms Check In counter-season experience during the COVID-19 Bayer has also been able to keep operations in thepandemic, we would like to hear from you. Please counter season going smoothly this year.email amartin@seedworldgroup.com. SW28/ SEEDWORLD.COMJANUARY 2021'