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Syngenta working to mitigate dust from treated seed

Researchers are finding ways to reduce dust from treated seeds, helping to protect pollinator habitat and other sensitive crops.

Syngenta Seed Care Institute head Ravi Ramachandran calls seed treatments a very useful crop production tool that needs to be stewarded properly.

“We educate our growers and customers, and we actually conduct large-scale testing.  Therefore, our hope and expectation is that the technology is properly used, having minimal impact to pollinators.”

Seed treatments are common in many cropping systems, providing disease and pest protection during the critical first three weeks after planting.

Speaking to Brownfield at the Institute in Stanton, Minnesota, Ramachandran says their formulations go through extensive testing.

“At Syngenta, we have a very high-value technology, and our formulations are designed with unique components in them that not only stabilizes the product but also helps reduce the dust coming off the seed.”

The Seed Care Institute also conducts applicator training for commercial seed retailers, which Ramachandran says is unique to Syngenta.