(December 21, 2020)
Nuseed Carinata’s commercial harvest is currently underway in Argentina. At the same time, the global potential of the crop is advancing with the harvest of Nuseed R&D trial plots in Southern France.
In 2017 and 2018, the developer of Carinata had grown and assessed limited small plot trials in France. Initially testing the crop to determine the main agronomic challenges in the summer planting rotation and determining which varieties had a suitable maturity cycle. Based on observations made in these previous seasons, Nuseed formulated the cover crop planting framework for the current trials in Southern France.
“The Nuseed Carinata R&D plots show good potential, growing Nuseed Carinata hybrids between rotations in the same region as Europe’s largest biofuel producers would be a huge benefit,” said Alex Clayton, Nuseed Global Business Development Leader, Carinata. “The work we are doing now is the start of a strategy that will help ensure Nuseed Carinata hybrids grow well in what are typically unproductive periods in the crop cycle for growers in the EU.”
Nuseed is advancing Carinata hybrids that produce excellent non-food oil for renewable fuels and non-GM high protein meal for livestock feed, plus agronomic advantages including the huge biomass above ground and extensive root system. It’s the Nuseed Carinata plant structure that substantially removes carbon from the air where it’s harmful and sequesters it to where it’s desperately needed to improve soil health.
Nuseed extended their strategic hybrid sunflower production partnership over the past year to also include the Nuseed Carinata trials and evaluation throughout growing areas in France. “The team maximizes on the ground grower relationships to test the potential of different Nuseed Carinata germplasm under local agronomic and production practices,” said Patrick Dieterich, Nuseed Europe GM. “We are able to accelerate market development through collaboration while ensuring regulatory requirements and local performance in the field.”
