Swiss agrochemicals giant Syngenta has launched a range of new biostimulants, called Epivio, which address abiotic stress through seed treatment. Over the last five years Syngenta has developed abiotic stress management testing capabilities to simulate drought, heat, cold, and nutrient stresses. The company has now commercialized the resulting products under the Epivio brand in combination with others from its Seedcare business to improve plant growth while also addressing difficult-to-control pathogens, insects and nematodes.

Epivio products stimulate the development of seedlings by providing micronutrients and biostimulant compounds and activating soil microflora, leading to stress-tolerant plants.

“We see soil productivity as a major new opportunity to make crops more efficient, stress tolerant and higher yielding, said Syngenta’s global head of Seedcare, Ioana Tudor.

According to Syngenta, extensive field trials in Latin America have demonstrated yield benefits averaging 5% to soybean growers under a broad range of conditions. First sales of Epivio will occur this year in Brazil for soybean and in China for corn. Epivio will then be rapidly expanded to additional crops and geographies.