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April 2014
hydro-efficiency and combines germplasm
selected for drought tolerant characteristics
and the drought tolerant biotech traits with
agronomic recommendations.
Another current project is WEMA, the
water efficient maize for Africa, which is a
joint public/private partnership between
Monsanto, Kenya’s African Agricultural
Technology Foundation and funded by the
Bill andMelinda Gates Foundation, Howard
Buffet Foundation and USAID. The goal is
to enhance food security in sub-Saharan
Africa through developing drought tolerant
maize through conventional breeding.
There isalsoanew focusonseed treatments
whichhelpprotect the seed against insects,
diseases and other environmental stresses
and in doing so, improve yields. A new
product, Acceleron, should be launched
in South Africa by August 2014. The
seed treatment looks very promising for
nematodecontrol and isgivinggood results.
Something that Dunlop says has everybody
veryexcited is anewareaof research called
biologicals. “Agricultural biologicals” is an
umbrella term formicrobials, plant extracts,
beneficial insects and other material that
can be used by producers to increase crop
health and productivity as a part of their
toolboxof innovation formodernagriculture
in an integrated systems approach that
brings together breeding, biotechnology
and agronomic practices to improve yields.
Dunlop says that Monsanto’s BioDirect
technology provides new options for
pest and virus control. This technology
uses molecules found in nature which are
commoncomponentsof the foodweeatand
our environment which can be developed
for use in topically applied cropprotection.
Monsanto is getting more involved in
seeking integrated farming solutions
which use technology for information
such as precision agriculture. Historical
data is analysed together with modelled
predictions to arrive at more informed
decisions. New technologies, such as
DeltaForce, which offers growers control of
the down force and vDrive, which enables a
rowby rowmanagementofplantpopulation
regardless of ground curves or speed, all
enhance yield potential beyond the seed
breeding laboratory.
Dunlop concluded by assuring producers
that in Monsanto’s line of sight is food
security and increased yields. Thiswill best
be achieved through the intersection of
genetics, breeding and information which
will empower producers to make the best
decisions throughout theseason. This focus
definitely also includes both commercial
producers and smallholders since this
integrated farming approach is not linked
to the size of a farming operation, but
rather improves the toolbox available to all
producers.
1: RobDunlopofMonsanto, USA,was the keynote speaker at Congress 2014.
2:MaxduPreez (author, journalist andanalyst) led thepanel discussionwhich followed the introductorypresentation. Thepanel consistedof LenBrand
(managing director: John Deere), Dr Peter Johnston (applied climatologist, University of Cape Town), Chris Sturgess (director Commodity Derivates,
JSE) andRobDunlop.
3:LenBranddiscussedprecision farmingandmechanisationwhileDrPeterJohnston talkedabout theweather trendsandglobalwarmingand the impact
this has onSouthernAfrica.
4:ChrisSturgessconcurredwithRobDunlop’spresentationby informingCongressattendeesabout theJSEmarketdevelopmentsandsimulator trading.
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