EN 
PT_BR Corteva Agriscience, in partnership with the Government of the State of Mato Grosso do Sul, the Mato Grosso do Sul Soybean Producers Association (Aprosoja/MS), the MS Foundation, and the Chapadão Foundation, presented the evolution of Incrementa MS during Showtec Maracaju. This program is aimed at farmers in Mato Grosso do Sul and seeks to increase agricultural productivity through a scalable technical and agronomic model.
Originally conceived with a focus on increasing corn productivity, the program was expanded to include soybean cultivation within the region's planting system. Due to the corn production calendar in Mato Grosso do Sul, whose main window occurs during the off-season, the initial phase of the pilot project focused exclusively on soybean cultivation, showing significant gains as a result of adopting agricultural management practices aligned with regional climatic conditions.
“Around 30 farmers were mobilized, and they recorded an increase in productivity of approximately three sacks of soybeans per hectare, and five sacks when we compare their performance with the average productivity recorded in the state,” highlights Marcus Santos, Agronomy Leader at Corteva for Brazil and Paraguay.
According to the executive, the result proves how simple management measures already bring benefits to the field. "We believe the results can be even greater when we deepen the management techniques and combine them with seeds developed for the region's needs," he explains.
According to data from the SIGA-MS Project, executed by Aprosoja/MS with resources from the State Government, Mato Grosso do Sul is responsible for 91% of the national grain production, while in second-crop corn it accounts for 10% of the national volume. This context led state leaders to mobilize the productive sector around the need to raise agricultural productivity levels, resulting in the creation of Incrementa MS.
“The Incrementa MS program arrives at a crucial moment for producers in Mato Grosso do Sul, who are seeking to raise productivity ceilings and advance sustainably and profitably. Aprosoja/MS plays a fundamental role in connecting producers and partners in the sector, organizing knowledge and validating solutions in the field to generate concrete and lasting results,” explains Andre Dobashi, Vice-President of Aprosoja Mato Grosso do Sul.
Applied research in the field
The Incrementa MS program operates as a statewide agronomic validation and positioning program, structured around three complementary fronts:
Implementation of technological systems in demonstration units of rural producers;
Conducting research protocols with trials and comparisons; and
Standardized process for collecting, checking, and consolidating data, which supports agronomic recommendations in the soybean/corn production system.
Corteva developed 38 protocols across eight technical disciplines, conducted by research teams from Fundação MS and Fundação Chapadão, with implementation in soybean crops in the 2025/2026 growing season and in corn crops in the 2026 off-season. The trials were structured to generate replicable technical evidence to support agronomic recommendations, focusing on improved management, increased productivity, and the safety of the integrated soybean/corn system. “By integrating the technical rigor of Fundação MS with practical field experimentation, Incrementa MS underpins the producer's journey of confidence. It is science supporting those who produce, ensuring high-impact economic solutions and sustainable results,” says Daniel Franco Pereira, president of Fundação MS.
The evaluations considered variables such as control and effectiveness by target, selectivity, plant health and leaf area, stand quality and productivity, as well as stability indicators according to the production environment. “This joint effort contributes to generating consistent technical evidence aligned with the specific challenges of the agricultural areas of Mato Grosso do Sul,” reinforces Ilton Henrichsen, President of the Chapadão Foundation.
In soybeans, the protocols evaluate selected cultivars adapted to the region, following technical recommendations regarding population, planting window, and operational aspects. In corn, the actions planned for the off-season involve the use of hybrids focused on performance and stability, considering the planting window, climatic risks, and biotic pressure, with the goal of maximizing the response of the production system.
Investment in Research & Development
Corteva has a satellite research station in Fátima do Sul, Mato Grosso do Sul, which tests seed innovations that best meet the climate, soil, pest, and disease characteristics of the region. "We are a research and development company focused on seed technologies, chemical pesticides, and biological solutions developed to help farmers overcome the daily challenges of farming," says Marcus Santos.
The company invests US$$ 4 million daily, globally, in Research & Development activities. In Brazil alone, there are 10 research units.
