RiceTec, Inc.
Julie Bodine
Director, Global Corporate Communications
+1.832.316.8859
jbodine@ricetec.com  

RiceTec announces leadership transition: Welcomes new CEO

ALVIN, TX (August 2025) – RiceTec today announced a key leadership transition. After three years of dedicated service, Karsten Neuffer has stepped down from his role as Chief Executive Officer. Neuffer led RiceTec through a successful transformation, strengthening its strategy, building a high-performing executive team, and laying the groundwork for sustained, profitable growth.

The Board expresses its gratitude for Neuffer’s leadership and vision, and wishes him continued success in his future endeavors.

To lead RiceTec into its next chapter, the Board has appointed Brian Fife as Chief Executive Officer. Most recently, Fife served as CEO of Innovative Seed Solutions, a joint venture between Remington Seeds and Bayer Crop Science. During his tenure, he drove substantial growth, expanding sales and profitability, strengthening global market share, and building a culture of collaboration and trust across the organization.

“We are delighted to welcome Brian as our new CEO,” said Kay Kuenker, Chairperson of the Board. “His deep global and operational experience across seeds and traits, coupled with his servant leadership and down-to-earth approach, make him an ideal leader to guide our company’s next chapter of growth and innovation.

Prior to ISS, Fife held senior leadership roles at Corteva Agrisciences, DowDuPont, and Dow AgroSciences, where he led global strategy, transformation, finance, and commercial operations. His broad experience across international markets and his expertise in building high-performing, sustainable businesses position him well to lead RiceTec into its next phase of growth.

“RiceTec has a strong foundation and a bold ambition to become the world leader in hybrid rice,” said Fife. “I look forward to working with the Board, our teams, and our partners to advance innovation, deliver value for farmers, and expand our global impact.”

With Fife’s appointment, RiceTec enters an exciting new chapter, one grounded in innovation, collaboration, and a deep commitment to sustainable agriculture. The company remains focused on delivering high-performing hybrid rice solutions that create more value for farmers, consumers, and the planet.

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About RiceTec

RiceTec leads innovation in sustainable rice agriculture, creating more value for farmers, consumers, and the planet. For over 30 years, RiceTec has advanced rice cultivation through cutting-edge research, strategic partnerships, and a commitment to global food security. As the only seed company focused solely on rice, RiceTec is uniquely positioned to lead the transition towards more sustainable rice farming. With operations in the US, India, and Mercosur (Brazil and Uruguay), RiceTec has a strong international presence and a legacy of innovation, including the commercialization of hybrid rice seed in the Americas. To learn more about RiceTec’s commitment to a sustainable future, visit www.ricetec.com or connect with on LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X.

Multinacional Americana foi responsável pelo cultivo das primeiras sementes híbridas de arroz no Rio Grande do Sul 

A diretoria global da RicTec, líder em inovação para o cultivo de arroz sustentável, esteve no Rio Grande do Sul para participar das comemoração dos 25 anos de operações da multinacional americana no Mercosul. A chegada da RiceTec no Brasil, também marcou o início do plantio das primeiras sementes híbridas de arroz no estado gaúcho, que atualmente produz cerca de 70% do arroz brasileiro.

Durante a confraternização realizada no Centro Tecnologia da RiceTec, em Capão do Leão, no Rio Grande do Sul, na última quinta-feira, dia 30/01, o CEO Global da RiceTec, Mr Karsten Neuffer, destacou para os produtores presentes que a empresa investe ativamente em desenvolvimento de semente e tecnologias.

“Contamos com um portifólio próprio e muito promissor de sementes e tecnologias. Todos nossos híbridos foram testados para atender os padrões de qualidade que o produtor e a indústria necessitam. Somos a única empresa com presença global e as sementes da RiceTec são cultivadas em todos os continentes, disse Karsten.

Também vieram ao Brasil para participar das atividades, o diretor de produção para as Américas, Adam Parsons e o líder de negócios para as Américas, Van McNeely, que lembrou da paixão do produtor de arroz pela atividade. 

“O produtor de arroz tem paixão pelo que faz, independe de onde ele esteja se no Brasil, Estados Unidos ou Uruguai. Isso diferencia o produtor de arroz para outras culturas. Essa paixão é que o fez a RiceTec se dedicar para trazer novos produtos; e isso vai direcionar nossos esforços nos próximos 25 anos”, afirmou Van.

NOVAS SOLUÇÕES

Ainda durante as atividades que marcaram as mais de duas décadas de atuação no Brasil, o Diretor Comercial da RiceTec no Mercosul, José Plaza Delestre, falou sobre o novo híbrido que será lançado oficialmente durante a 35ª Abertura da Colheita do Arroz, que será realizada em fevereiro.

“O XP117 foi desenvolvido com a tecnologia Max-Ace® já foi testado em áreas comerciais no Rio Grande do Sul nesta safra, atingindo excelente performance em produtividade aliado ao controle e seletividade. É uma genética tolerante ao herbicida inibidor de ACCase Acert®, que atua no controle das principais gramíneas na cultura orizícola, como o arroz vermelho e o capim arroz (Echinochloa spp.), resistentes aos herbicidas inibidores da ALS, plantas essas consideradas um entrave ao rendimento da cultura e que podem também levar à redução da produtividade e qualidade do produto final”, lembrou Plaza.

O especialista em cultivos e Diretor Comercial da RiceTec no Mercosul, José Plaza Delestre, explica que o desenvolvimento da tecnologia Max-Ace® contou com muitos anos de pesquisa até chegar em um produto com características diferenciadas tornando-se um aliado do produtor na busca por produtividade e qualidade de grãos

“Desde a fundação, mantemos nosso compromisso com a inovação, fornecendo produtos resilientes e de alto rendimento, que atendem às crescentes necessidades dos produtores de arroz em todo o mundo”, enfatiza José Plaza Delestre.

Olhando para o futuro, a RiceTec mantém a sua dedicação à sua visão de uma agricultura sustentável que agrega mais valor para os agricultores, os consumidores e o planeta. “A nossa missão é promover a sustentabilidade na produção de alimentos por meio de tecnologias presentes na semente do arroz. Neste sentido, a maior produtividade permite obter uma maior quantidade de arroz na mesma área e com a mesma quantidade de insumos, contribuindo desta forma com a ecoeficiência da cultura”, finaliza o executivo da RiceTec no Mercosul, José Plaza.

Click here to see pictures from the event.

Com sede em Houston, Texas (EUA), a RiceTec impulsiona a sustentabilidade da produção de alimentos por meio da tecnologia de híbridos de arroz. No Brasil, a empresa está presente há 25 anos e conta com Centros de Pesquisa, Desenvolvimento e Melhoramento em Santa Maria e Capão do Leão, no Rio Grande do Sul, e um Centro de Pesquisa, Produção de Sementes e Melhoramento em Roraima (RR), e operações comerciais no Uruguai.

RiceTec was responsible for cultivating the first hybrid rice seeds in Rio Grande do Sul.

The global management of RiceTec, a leader in innovation for sustainable rice cultivation, was in Rio Grande do Sul to participate in the celebration of the 25 years of operations of the American multinational in Mercosur. The arrival of RiceTec in Brazil also marked the beginning of the planting of the first hybrid rice seeds in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, which currently produces about 70% of Brazilian rice.

During the gathering held at the RiceTec Technology Center in Capão do Leão, Rio Grande do Sul, last Thursday, January 30th, the CEO of RiceTec, Mr. Karsten Neuffer, highlighted to the producers present that the company actively invests in seed and technology development. “We have a very promising portfolio of seeds and technologies. All our hybrids have been tested to meet the quality standards that producers and the industry need. We are the only company with a global presence, and RiceTec seeds are cultivated on all continents,” said Karsten.

Also present in Brazil to participate in the activities were the Director of Production for the Americas, Adam Parsons, and the Business Leader for the Americas, Van McNeely, who recalled the passion of rice producers for the activity. “Rice producers have a passion for what they do, regardless of whether they are in Brazil, the United States, or Uruguay. This passion differentiates rice producers from other crops. This passion is what has driven RiceTec to dedicate itself to bringing new products; and this will guide our efforts for the next 25 years,” said Van.

NEW SOLUTIONS

During the activities that marked more than two decades of operations in Brazil, the Commercial Director of RiceTec in Mercosur, José Plaza Delestre, spoke about the new hybrid that will be officially launched during the 35th Rice Harvest Opening, which will be held in February. “The XP117 was developed with Max-Ace® technology and has already been tested in commercial areas in Rio Grande do Sul this season, achieving excellent performance in productivity combined with control and selectivity. It is a genetic line tolerant to the ACCase inhibitor herbicide Acert®, which acts in controlling the main grasses in rice cultivation, such as red rice and barnyard grass (Echinochloa spp.), resistant to ALS inhibitor herbicides, plants considered an obstacle to crop yield and which can also lead to reduced productivity and quality of the final product,” Plaza recalled.

The cultivation specialist and Commercial Director of RiceTec in Mercosur, José Plaza Delestre, explains that the development of Max-Ace® technology took many years of research to reach a product with differentiated characteristics, becoming an ally of the producer in the search for productivity and grain quality. “Since our foundation, we have maintained our commitment to innovation, providing resilient and high-yielding products that meet the growing needs of rice producers worldwide,” emphasizes José Plaza Delestre.

Looking to the future, RiceTec maintains its dedication to its vision of sustainable agriculture that adds more value to farmers, consumers, and the planet. “Our mission is to promote sustainability in food production through technologies present in rice seeds. In this sense, higher productivity allows for a greater quantity of rice in the same area and with the same amount of inputs, thus contributing to the eco-efficiency of the crop,” concludes the RiceTec executive in Mercosur, José Plaza.

Click here to see pictures from the event.

About RiceTec
Headquartered in Alvin, Texas, RiceTec has been a pioneer in sustainable rice agriculture since 1988. With an innovative spirit, we introduced the first commercial hybrid rice seed in 1999 in the US, leveraging advanced breeding techniques and a diverse germplasm collection. As the first to commercialize hybrid rice seed in both North and South America, our innovations continue to shape the industry, evident in advancements like our FullPage® and Max-Ace® Rice Cropping Solutions. With a decade-long operations in India and reach into Europe and Southeast Asia, RiceTec continues to transform rice production for the benefit of farmers, consumers, and the planet. To learn more about RiceTec’s commitment to a sustainable future, visit www.ricetec.com or connect with us on LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram.

RiceTec launches rice seed that promises to increase productivity

Weather difficulties and weeds are some of the problems that affect rice productivity in the state during all harvests. With this in mind, RiceTec, a multinational company specializing in the production of high-quality seeds, will present a new product during the Official Opening of the Rice Harvest that promises to change the concept of productivity and quality for rice crops.

RiceTec’s new product is in the final stages of evaluation this harvest and will be offered commercially starting in the next campaign, 2015/16. The name of the product is being defined through an internal campaign with the technicians involved in the development of the seed.

AlreadyRio Grande do Sul Rice Institute.

The company projects a 20% growth in its hybrid seed market share in Rio Grande do Sul for 2014/2015.

RiceTec to receive award for outstanding business

A highlight in the rice sector in the State, the company will receive the Clave de Sol Award in the Excellence and Quality in Seeds category

RICETEC SEMENTES LTDA, a multinational market leader in hybrid rice seeds in the Americas, which has its headquarters in Porto Alegre in Mercosur, was one of the honorees at the 38th Edition of the Clave de Sol Awards for the Best of the Year, in the category Business Highlight – Excellence and Quality in Seeds.

Created in 1962, the event was an initiative of the Association of Businessmen of the Southern Region and Mercosur (Assmercosul). This year, the award was presented on MARCH 25, 2015, at the Hannover Hall at SOGIPA – PORTO ALEGRE GYMNASTICS SOCIETY.

The award, recognized as one of the oldest in the State, this year will feature a special tribute to the Centenary of one of the greatest Brazilian composers, the Gaucho Lupicínio Rodrigues.

RiceTec will be represented by the company’s marketing director in Porto Alegre, Leandro Pasqualli, as well as by employees and partners linked to the company’s communications area. “We are proud of this distinction, which has become one of the most notable events in the state, due to the seriousness of the award, which expresses the spontaneous recognition of the opinions of businesspeople and independent professionals. The award is a tribute to quality, technology and entrepreneurial talent”, comments Pasqualli.

About RiceTec –

RiceTec was founded in 1990 in South Texas, United States. In South America, the company operates in the breeding, research and development, production and marketing of hybrid rice seeds and also has offices in Argentina and Uruguay.

In addition to these countries, RiceTec is present in markets in Europe, Asia, the Andean Region and Central America. In Mercosur, since it began its commercial sales in 2004, it has shown an average growth of 48% per year and has 170 employees.

Faced with clients focused on environmental and financial sustainability, RiceTec is permanently investing in technology to offer products with greater productivity and quality.

In addition to collaborating with global food production, RiceTec also collaborates with social projects through sponsorship of the Normandia Esporte Clube, which helps underprivileged children to practice sports in a healthy way. In Argentina, it helps a poor school in the region where it operates and a recovery center for young addicts, in addition to providing campaigns to collect warm clothing for donation in the winter, as well as toys for underprivileged children at Christmas time.

“TREBLE CLEF” Award

The “CLAVE DE SOL” award project was created in 1962 and registered in 1977, as part of the celebrations commemorating the 1st anniversary of the RS Composers’ Club, to honor entrepreneurs who at the time contributed to the continued existence of this entity.

Over the years, the event gained the official support of the Porto Alegre City Hall and in 1985, it became part of the Porto Alegre Events Calendar and in 1986, the Rio Grande do Sul events calendar.

RiceTec launches formula that combines loyalty with profitability

RiceTec’s seed portfolio that facilitates profitability strategies will be presented during Expoarroz

RiceTec’s loyalty program for purchasing rice seeds enters its third year in 2015. The first loyalty card for rice farmers in the South of the country was one of the attractions at the multinational company’s stand at Expoarroz 2015, which took place from May 5 to 8 at the Events Center in Pelotas.

To be part of the loyalty program, the producer must purchase the company’s products during three consecutive harvests. This year, RiceTec’s loyalty campaign will run until May 15, 2015.

“In addition to attractive prices, customers who purchased our seeds last year will receive first-hand access to our new commercial products that are being offered as part of the exclusive RiceTec Formula for the 2015/16 harvest,” highlights RiceTec’s marketing director, Leandro Pasqualli.

RiceTec’s seed portfolio facilitates profitability strategies –

The multinational company specializing in the production of high-quality seeds, which is one of the sponsors of the fair, will also present at its stand a portfolio of seeds that comprises a combination of products allowing the producer to have control over their crops, namely: INOV CL, AVAXI CL and TITAN CL, a product launched this year with a focus on increasing productivity and quality.

“We are introducing a new product to the market that will put producers in control of their crops. In addition to increasing productivity per hectare, the seed offers high tolerance to brusone, maintaining the innovative and high-tech tradition of RiceTec products,” says Pasqualli.

Headquartered in Porto Alegre, RiceTec tripled its cultivated area in Brazil and reached 100,000 hectares of planted area in Rio Grande do Sul in the 2014/15 harvest. In addition, it gained more than a thousand customers in Brazil during this harvest. The company is currently responsible for more than 90% of the hybrid seed market in RS.

About RiceTec –

RiceTec was founded in 1990 in South Texas, United States. In South America, the company operates in the breeding, research and development, production and marketing of hybrid rice seeds. The company also has offices in Argentina and Uruguay.

In addition to these countries, RiceTec is present in markets in Europe, Asia, the Andean region and Central America. In Mercosur, since it began its commercial sales in 2004, it has shown an average growth of 52% per year. RiceTec accounts for 90% of the hybrid seed market in the southern region of Brazil, and in Mercosur, 16% of the total Clearfield market.

Area cultivated with hybrid rice seeds grows more than 94% in seven years in RS

In 2014, more than 110 thousand hectares of Rio Grande do Sul soil used the technology in crops

It is estimated that in the last seven years, the state of Rio Grande do Sul, which produces 65% of Brazilian rice, has increased the area cultivated with the technology by more than 94%, from 6,000 hectares in 2007 to 111,000 hectares in 2014. The results of those who invested in hybrid seeds show that these crops had an average production increase of between 16% and 33%, compared to conventional varieties. “Crops with hybrid rice are more resistant to diseases and climate variations, so they are able to maintain the productivity and quality of the rice, guaranteeing greater productivity stability for the producer, unlike what happens with varieties,” highlights agronomist Leandro Pasqualli, Marketing Director at RiceTec.

Betting on this market, especially in Rio Grande do Sul due to the numbers involving rice production, RiceTec estimates a 15% increase in sales for the next harvest. The directors of the multinational attribute this growth to the new seed portfolio, which facilitates the rice grower’s production strategy through the correct combination of hybrids, especially products such as Inov CL, Avaxi CL and Titan CL, the latter launched in 2015 with a focus on increasing rice productivity and quality. “Inov CL is gaining an important space in agriculture and in the industry. That is why we project this growth in sales for 2015/2016”, reveals the agronomist and general director of RiceTec for Mercosur, Ricardo Blohm Bendzius.

Operating in Brazil since 2000, RiceTec, a multinational company specialized in research and marketing of hybrid seeds, headquartered in Porto Alegre (RS), currently has 200 employees in Mercosur, some of whom have PhDs and masters in the area of ​​genetics and rice development. In Latin America, its annual revenue totals R$50 million and its investment in research exceeds R$8 million.

About RiceTec –

In addition to these countries, RiceTec is present in markets in Europe, Asia, the Andean Region and Central America. In Mercosur, since it began its commercial sales in 2004, it has shown an average growth of 52% per year. In Brazil, RiceTec is headquartered in Porto Alegre (RS) and is present in all rice-growing areas.

RiceTec guarantees an increase in the price when purchasing its seeds

Innovative action by the multinational seed company locks in the price of R$37 per bag and is based on the futures market

In agribusiness, price fluctuations are one of the main risk factors for producers. In the rice sector, which does not yet have trading on the futures market – where producers can lock in a price – concerns about price formation are keeping rice farmers awake at night. For this reason, security has become a determining factor in the sector’s commercial relations.

Aware of the country’s economic scenario, RiceTec, a multinational rice company with 12 years of experience in the Brazilian market, has just launched another innovative initiative. After creating the first loyalty card for rice farmers in Brazil, RiceTec is now offering an early increase in the price of seeds when purchasing them.

The campaign, called “Strong Currency,” guarantees a price of R$37.00 per bag at the time of seed sales. “If this rate is lower than the value we are signaling, we will give a discount on the seed price. If the price of the grain goes up, the producer will capitalize on his own,” explains RiceTec’s Marketing Director, Leandro Pasqualli. The “Strong Currency” campaign will be implemented in all regions where the company operates in the country, as well as for all products. “This new tool, which uses the futures market as its logic, aims to serve all RiceTec customers,” Pasqualli emphasizes.

RiceTec’s business manager, Paulo Ernesto Fernandes, points out that the company does not sell the grain, but the “Strong Currency” campaign is a financial action that values ​​rice, the farmer’s currency when purchasing seeds. “This initiative is part of the company’s commercial policy and seeks to value the producer’s profitability and offer greater security to our customers when planning their crops,” says Fernandes.

RiceTec triples cultivated area in Brazil

RiceTec, a multinational company specializing in the development and sale of high-tech seeds, tripled its cultivated area in Brazil and reached 100,000 hectares of planted area in Rio Grande do Sul in the 2014/15 harvest. The company is responsible for 95% of the area planted with hybrid rice and 9% of the total area in Rio Grande do Sul.

One of the main features of RiceTec technology is increased heterosis, providing high production potential with stability, in addition to more robust plants, high tillering capacity and disease tolerance combined with high industrial quality. The technology used in RiceTec products allows for the use of water and inputs more efficiently, making the production process more sustainable and profitable.

The expectation is that in five years, Rio Grande do Sul will double the area of ​​crops cultivated with high-tech seeds. Betting on this market, especially in the South of Brazil, for the next harvest, RiceTec estimates a 15% increase in sales.

“Inov CL is gaining an important place in agriculture and industry. That is why we are projecting this growth in sales for 2015/2016”, reveals the agricultural engineer and general director of RiceTec for South America, Ricardo Blohm Bendzius.

RiceTec, responsible for 16% of the certified seed market (Clearfield) in Mercosur, plans to invest US$ 130 million over the next five years , mainly in India and South America. The company’s revenue in Mercosur increased from less than 10 million dollars in 2010 to 30 million in 2014. “Our technology meets the needs of producers and that is why demand is growing year after year”, reveals RiceTec’s Marketing Director, Leandro Pasqualli.

In the 2014/15 harvest, the average productivity of crops cultivated with RiceTec seed technology reached, on average, 9,640 kilos per hectare. In the same cycle, the average productivity of traditional cultivars in Rio Grande do Sul was 7,785 kilos per hectare, according to data from the Rio Grande do Sul Rice Institute (Irga).

Rice producers in Rio Grande do Sul are investing in seeds with differentiated technology to overcome the difficulties faced with the climate and the high production costs in the fields. According to a survey recently released by the Federation of Rice Growers Associations of Rio Grande do Sul (Federarroz), the cost of electricity for rice producers has increased by approximately 104% in one year. Given this scenario, producers who have chosen to invest in technologies should minimize production costs, while maintaining or increasing productivity.

Specialized in the development and commercialization of high-tech seeds, RiceTec, which is headquartered in Porto Alegre and has an experimental station in Santa Maria, has a portfolio that allows producers to spend less water on irrigation and fewer pesticides, without affecting productivity. “The technologies developed by RiceTec allow producers to increase productivity by 25%, use 33% less water and consume up to 20% less pesticides,” says Leandro Pasqualli, agronomist and marketing director at RiceTec.

RiceTec has been increasing the number of its products planted in the state with each harvest. So much so that from 2011 to 2015, the number of producers who chose the company’s seeds doubled. Last year alone, the number of producers increased by 18%. In addition, the multinational company tripled its cultivated area in Brazil and reached 100,000 hectares in Rio Grande do Sul in the 2014/2015 harvest. “Our goal is sustainability in agriculture, through the implementation of high technology and with minimal environmental impact, providing greater economic returns to producers,” he explains.

Another aspect that has been ensuring the company’s growth in Rio Grande do Sul is its productivity results. In the 2014/15 harvest, the average productivity of conventional varieties, according to data from the Rio Grande do Sul Rice Institute (Irga), was 7,684 kilos per hectare. The average productivity of RiceTec seeds, in the same cycle, was much higher. “Despite the adverse weather, our customers achieved an average productivity of 10,670 kilos per hectare, reaching over 12,000 kilos per hectare in some commercial areas with Titan CL technology,” he says.

Another important characteristic of the seed sold by the company is its greater resistance to brusone, the main disease that attacks the crop. The technology, developed at the company’s headquarters in Porto Alegre, is the result of crossing two or three distinct parental lines. This process consists of sowing alternating strips of male lines (pollen donors) and sterile male or female lines (pollen recipients). From the creation of a new line to its commercial launch, eight to ten years of intense work and investment are required.

Rice producers in Rio Grande do Sul are investing in seeds with differentiated technology to overcome the difficulties faced with the climate and the high production costs in the fields. According to a survey recently released by the Federation of Rice Growers Associations of Rio Grande do Sul (Federarroz), the cost of electricity for rice producers has increased by approximately 104% in one year. Given this scenario, producers who have chosen to invest in technologies should minimize production costs, while maintaining or increasing productivity.

Specialized in the development and commercialization of high-tech seeds, RiceTec, which is headquartered in Porto Alegre and has an experimental station in Santa Maria, has a portfolio that allows producers to spend less water on irrigation and fewer pesticides, without affecting productivity. “The technologies developed by RiceTec allow producers to increase productivity by 25%, use 33% less water and consume up to 20% less pesticides,” says Leandro Pasqualli, agronomist and marketing director at RiceTec.

RiceTec has been increasing the number of its products planted in the state with each harvest. So much so that from 2011 to 2015, the number of producers who chose the company’s seeds doubled. Last year alone, the number of producers increased by 18%. In addition, the multinational company tripled its cultivated area in Brazil and reached 100,000 hectares in Rio Grande do Sul in the 2014/2015 harvest. “Our goal is sustainability in agriculture, through the implementation of high technology and with minimal environmental impact, providing greater economic returns to producers,” he explains.

Another aspect that has been ensuring the company’s growth in Rio Grande do Sul is its productivity results. In the 2014/15 harvest, the average productivity of conventional varieties, according to data from the Rio Grande do Sul Rice Institute (Irga), was 7,684 kilos per hectare. The average productivity of RiceTec seeds, in the same cycle, was much higher. “Despite the adverse weather, our customers achieved an average productivity of 10,670 kilos per hectare, reaching over 12,000 kilos per hectare in some commercial areas with Titan CL technology,” he says.

Another important characteristic of the seed sold by the company is its greater resistance to brusone, the main disease that attacks the crop. The technology, developed at the company’s headquarters in Porto Alegre, is the result of crossing two or three distinct parental lines. This process consists of sowing alternating strips of male lines (pollen donors) and sterile male or female lines (pollen recipients). From the creation of a new line to its commercial launch, eight to ten years of intense work and investment are required.

Given the high cost of production, choosing the right seed can guarantee the future of the crop and even determine the size of the producer’s profitability, becoming increasingly important. RiceTec, a company that operates in the area of ​​research, development, production and commercialization of rice seeds in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and the United States, is preparing a new product that promises to surprise the rice market.

With higher profitability and high tolerance to rice blast as one of its main features, the LexusCL will be launched at the 26th edition of the Official Opening of the Rice Harvest, which will take place from February 18 to 20 in Alegrete (RS). “This product has been under development by our technicians for at least five years. We can guarantee that the LexusCL will bring more flexibility to producers due to its plasticity of use in different cultivation systems and greater versatility in the destinations for its grains”, explains agricultural engineer Leandro Pasqualli, Marketing Director at RiceTec.

The cultivation capacity of the LexusCL will be available during the Official Harvest Opening, through a cultivated plot to show the public in the event’s technological showcase. “It is a unique product, which can be sown in rows, in dry soil or in the pre-germinated system. Another benefit is that it can be destined for both the white and parboiled rice market”, guarantees Pasqualli.

Recognized by producers in Rio Grande do Sul for its pioneering work in research and technology in rice farming, RiceTec’s new seed will further strengthen its current portfolio, which includes products from InovCL and TitanCL. “LexusCL meets the needs of rice farmers, which is to increase productivity, reduce the use of fungicides to control diseases and deliver a high-quality product to the industry,” says Leandro Pasqualli.

According to the director, there are already seed purchase reserves for the next harvest, both from producers and processing industries that prioritize grain quality. This will be one of RiceTec’s main products in the coming years.

A multinational company specializing in the development of rice seeds achieved more than 13.7 thousand kilos per hectare in the first phase of the project.

A leader in research, development, production and marketing of rice seeds in the Americas, RiceTec is preparing yet another innovation for the rice sector, with the main attraction being the quality and productivity of the rice. Entitled Project 15k, the initiative aims to encourage and guide producers to achieve 15 thousand kilos of productivity per hectare, almost double the current average for this year’s Rio Grande do Sul harvest, estimated at 7.7 thousand kilos per hectare according to data from the Rio Grande do Sul Rice Institute (Irga).

In its first phase of the project in the 2015/2016 harvest, which had Titan CL as its main product, the productivity achieved was 13.71 thousand kilos per hectare in the São Gabriel region. Olavo Predebon, owner of the property where the numbers were achieved, celebrated the investment in a seed with differentiated quality. “The result was excellent, in addition to the expressive productivity, I harvested rice with a strong stem, which did not become lodged and the grain was whole, I have no doubt that it was worth investing a little more in the seed”, said Predebon, who planted around 150 hectares with RiceTec products.

Through the use of new and exclusive genetics, developed at the experimental station that RiceTec built in Santa Maria, the multinational’s bold initiative is supported by the implementation of best crop management practices to achieve high yields and full acceptance by the industry, producers and consumers, as highlighted by agronomist Leandro Pasqualli, RiceTec’s Marketing Director and responsible for the project. “The objective of Project 15k is to achieve maximum performance of our products through the implementation of specific best management practices, thus achieving advances in productivity, quality and profitability,” says Pasqualli.

Responsible for 16% of the certified seed market (Clearfield) in Mercosur, RiceTec constantly invests in research. The Santa Maria experimental station, a R$20 million operation by the company, was strategically chosen to develop seeds with greater disease tolerance, a high percentage of whole grains, options in maturation and tolerance to herbicides. “All the parents developed at the station will give rise to hybrids that will be evaluated in this project. For example, Santa Maria is a very good place to evaluate the reaction to blast of experimental materials”, highlights RiceTec’s Research Director, Edgar Alonso Torres Toro, PhD in Genetics and Plant Breeding from the Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture.

Between 2011 and 2015, the number of producers who opted for RiceTec seeds more than doubled. While in 2011 there were 646 producers using the company’s products, this year it has already surpassed the number of 1,300 customers. For 2016, the company plans to increase these numbers even further with the entry into the conventional rice seed market.

Between 2011 and 2015, the number of producers who opted for RiceTec seeds more than doubled. While in 2011 there were 646 producers using the company’s products, this year it has already surpassed the number of 1,300 customers. For 2016, the company, which is responsible for 16% of the certified seed market (Clearfield) in Mercosur, plans to increase these numbers even further by entering the conventional rice seed market.

The new product for the conventional market will be on display at the 26th edition of the Official Opening of the Rice Harvest, which will take place from February 18 to 20 in Alegrete (RS). “Our focus is on the needs of the producer, which is why we developed a conventional seed with high productivity and quality in a medium cycle, thinking of the crop as a system,” explains Leandro Pasqualli, agronomist and marketing director at RiceTec.

With over 15 years of experience in the Brazilian market and headquartered in Porto Alegre, the multinational company achieved an 18% growth in the number of customers in 2015. In addition, the company tripled its cultivated area in Brazil and reached 100 thousand hectares in Rio Grande do Sul in the 2014/2015 harvest. “Our goal is long-term sustainability in agriculture, through the implementation of high technology and with minimal environmental impact, providing greater economic return to the producer”, explains agronomist Leandro Pasqualli, Marketing Director at RiceTec.

Another aspect that has been ensuring the company’s growth in Rio Grande do Sul is its productivity results. In the 2014/2015 harvest, the average productivity of conventional varieties, according to data from the Rio Grande do Sul Rice Institute (Irga), was 7,684 kilos per hectare. The average productivity of RiceTec seeds, in the same cycle, was much higher. “Our customers achieved an average productivity of 10,670 kilos per hectare, reaching over 12,000 kilos per hectare in some commercial areas with TitanCL technology,” he says.

Specialized in the development and commercialization of high-tech seeds, RiceTec has a portfolio that allows producers to spend less water on irrigation and fewer pesticides, without affecting productivity. “The technologies developed by RiceTec allow producers to increase productivity by 20%, use 33% less water and consume up to 20% less pesticides,” says agricultural engineer Cyrano Busato.

Another important characteristic of the seed sold by the company is its greater resistance to brusone, the main disease that attacks the crop. The technology, developed at the company’s headquarters in Porto Alegre, is the result of crossing two or three distinct parental lines. This process consists of sowing alternating strips of male lines (pollen donors) and sterile male or female lines (pollen recipients). From the creation of a new line to its commercial launch, eight to ten years of intense work and investment are required.