Key Takeaways
- Innovative Solution: TEIKKO, developed by Plant Health Care, is a novel peptide-based product that offers effective nematode control in soybeans, marking a significant shift away from traditional agrochemicals.
- Significant Market: Brazilian farmers, who spent over $200 million on nematode control, now have a new, environmentally friendly option for soybean cultivation.
- Commercial Launch: TEIKKO, set for its commercial debut in the 2024/25 soybean season, has received federal approval in Brazil, with discussions underway for distribution partnerships.
- Environmental and Practical Benefits: TEIKKO reduces the need for toxic chemicals and offers practical advantages like a three-year shelf life, compatibility with other seed treatments, and reliable performance under varying conditions.
- Company’s Vision and Growth: Plant Health Care aims to be a leader in alternatives to conventional agrochemicals. TEIKKO is positioned to lead this charge, potentially seeing rapid adoption among Brazilian farmers.
TEIKKO emerges from Plant Health Care’s PREtec peptide platform, revolutionizing how soybean farmers combat plant parasitic nematodes. This seed treatment, explicitly targeting the root-lesion nematode (Pratylenchus brachyurus), has demonstrated comparable or superior results to standard agrochemical treatments in recent research.
In the 2022/23 season alone, Brazilian growers allocated $215 million to soybean nematode control, indicative of the significant market potential for TEIKKO. The soybean harvested area in Brazil for the 2023/24 season is projected to be a vast 45 million hectares.
TEIKKO’s Advantages
Besides its environmental friendliness, TEIKKO’s unique benefits include:
- A long shelf-life.
- There are no special storage requirements.
- Easy integration with industrial seed treatments.
- Consistent performance in diverse environmental conditions.
This positions TEIKKO as a desirable option for soybean growers seeking both efficacy and sustainability.
Future Expansions
Plant Health Care plans to extend TEIKKO’s label to include additional crops and nematode species, broadening its applicability and utility in the agricultural sector.
The PREtec Technology Platform
TEIKKO is based on the PREtec technology platform, a groundbreaking approach that harnesses natural proteins to stimulate plant defense and pathogen resistance mechanisms. This technology boosts crop growth and quality and enhances resistance to various abiotic stresses.
TEIKKO’s Commitment and Vision
Jeff Tweedy, CEO of Plant Health Care, emphasizes TEIKKO’s role in aiding Brazilian farmers to produce soybeans sustainably. The company is committed to replacing harmful soil fumigants and chemical nematicides with environmentally responsible solutions like TEIKKO, aligning with its vision of leading the shift toward eco-friendly agricultural practices.
Plant Health Care’s introduction of TEIKKO into the Brazilian market is a significant milestone in sustainable agriculture. Its potential for rapid adoption and effectiveness in improving soybean production while reducing environmental impact heralds a new era in crop management and aligns with global efforts toward more sustainable farming practices.
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
