36 / SEEDWORLD.COM SEPTEMBER 2017 GETTING A GLASS of fresh clean water from the tap or gazing at a clear sky unin- terrupted by pollution is something most take for granted. That’s not the case with our next generation; millennials demand corporate sustainability, fair trade and a green approach. All the data show that having an environmental focus is essential to growing a profitable business. Last year, NoroGard decided to step up its environmental work. But to be honest, we hadn’t given it much effort. To help kick start our initiative, we joined a study by the International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics (IIIEE). After being under their watchful eyes for six months, we were prepared for a lecture and an expensive change of rou- tines. You can imagine my surprise, and relief, when the report showed that we had first-degree environmental work and fully satisfying routines. What came to light was that NoroGard, founded by an old blacksmith who knew how to count every penny, still operates within the original culture. We don’t spend extra on material, and our engineers ensure nothing goes to waste. We build our business on relationships and use local suppliers. By not spending extra resources, we save money while saving resources and the environment. What this study showed is that being cost efficient results in environmental benefits, and the environmental focus is good for the bottom line. When it comes to seed treatments, we must educate our next generation about their low environmental impact. We must also demonstrate that our industry takes responsibility for the environment. You can save money and the envi- ronment by using a small (in scale) and compact seed treater that’s easy to clean. With less downtime and less operator exposure, you’ll save money. This also results in limited waste. Seed treaters with dust reduction are not only a wise choice for the environment but also for your operator’s health. Consider a closed equipment system, which provides operator safety and lower maintenance costs. By using a sophisticated seed treatment applica- tor, you ensure high quality application. This means you can use extremely low application rates with low tolerances and flow control. NoroGard’s seed treater has dosage rates as small as 1.69 ounces per 220 pounds. This significantly changes your bottom line and ROI. By not over applying products and not wasting water to get an even application, you also ben- efit the environment. Let’s work together to improve our environment and save some money. Pocket Money with a Focus on the Environment KETTY NILSSON NOROGARD PRESIDENT @NoroGardAB • Ketty@NoroGard.com • NoroGard.com EACH YEAR, I spend several weeks analyzing data, navigating back and forth between Excel sheets and plugging in data. I have about a two-week window when this is all I do. I stop only to sleep and eat … and my family, well, they don’t see much of me during that time of year. That was the story of one of our customers and, unfortunately, many plant breeders around the world share this same story. There’s this finite window of time which plant breeders must work within to analyze six to 12 months worth of data they’ve been collecting and laboring over. Plant breeders are known to agonize over these decisions, as they significantly impact the future of their and/or the com- pany’s plant breeding program, and thus products released onto the market. These can be multimillion-dollar deci- sions that have the potential to change the direction of a program — for better or for worse. Once the decision is made about which hybrids, varieties or cultivars should advance in the breeding program, the seeds are then packaged and sent to the next phase of production — this could be in the next greenhouse over or in another hemisphere. Regardless, timing is eve- rything, as agriculture hinges on cycles and you have to catch those windows of opportunity. It’s going to be a stressful decision, regardless, and one you won’t likely stop worrying about. But why not make this process as easy and automatic as pos- sible, while maintaining your family life? That’s what a highly relational database, such as AGROBASE, can do for you. It can sometimes be hard to describe the value of a highly relational database and how it works. In short, a highly rela- tional database is one in which all the data is interconnected, meaning you no longer have to navigate between Excel sheets, struggling to call up the information you want to see for comparison. With a few clicks of a button, the data can be sorted based on a number of criteria, ranging from the presence of a certain trait or characteristic to dates, and from locations to maturity. This type of database automates data analysis and data recall, allowing you to spend your time evaluating and compar- ing the data from different trials. Not only does it automate data analysis, but it’s also known to shave days off the deci- sion-making process. While the software won’t make the decision for you, it will certainly give you confidence in making your decision, with all the data to back up it up. Plus, you’ll be able to forego entering robot mode. Plant Breeders Aren’t Robots, They’re Human CHRISTOPHER LEONARD AGRONOMIX EUROPE SAS PRESIDENT/CEO @Agronomix • leonard@agronomix.com • agronomix.com