In a rapidly transforming global seed industry, Advanta Seeds is positioning itself at the forefront of innovation with a strong focus on biofuel crops, precision agriculture, and sustainability. In this exclusive interview, Benjamin Marolda, Chief Operating Officer of Advanta Seeds, shares insights into the company’s latest breakthroughs—from ″super genetics″ in corn and sorghum tailored for ethanol production to strategic partnerships expanding its global sweet corn supply chain. He also discusses how intellectual property protection is encouraging deeper R&D investments, and how precision agriculture and data-driven product positioning are helping farmers maximize both yields and efficiency. With innovation deeply rooted in its strategy, Advanta is shaping the next generation of solutions that address the challenges of climate change, resource efficiency, and food security worldwide.
Advanta Seeds is recently engaging in “super genetics for biofuel corn and sorghum.” Can you elaborate on what makes these genetics “super” and how they differ from your traditional offerings?
At Advanta, every product goes through rigorous testing—from R&D to field trials—before reaching the market. What we refer to as ″super genetics″ are those hybrids that consistently demonstrate exceptional performance in biofuel production. These genetics stand out not only for their high biomass and grain yield per hectare, but also for their superior conversion efficiency—meaning more liters of ethanol can be produced from the same amount of crop.
In the case of corn and sorghum for biofuels, these hybrids are specifically selected for their ability to deliver maximum output to ethanol mills and farmers alike. They outperform standard varieties in both yield and processing efficiency, making them ideal for regions focused on renewable energy production.
These ″super″ genetics represent a new generation of high-performing, purpose-driven crops that combine agronomic strength with sustainability and economic value.
With your partnership with Baidyanath Biofuels for ethanol production in India, how are you developing maize hybrids specifically optimized for bioethanol yield versus food production?
At Advanta Seeds, we conduct extensive trials across our maize portfolio to evaluate performance for different end uses—whether for food, feed, or fuel. This allows us to position each hybrid based on its strengths and suitability. For bioethanol production, we focus on traits such as high starch content, biomass yield, and adaptability to local growing conditions.
Through our collaboration with partners like Baidyanath Biofuels, we’re able to identify and recommend hybrids that deliver optimal results for ethanol processing. These partnerships also provide valuable feedback from the field, helping us refine our breeding strategy and ensure our products meet the specific needs of the biofuel industry.
In the end, our goal is to maximize yield per hectare and offer tailored genetic solutions that drive efficiency—whether in food systems or renewable energy production. By aligning our breeding and testing and product positioning efforts with industry requirements, we are helping farmers unlock greater value from their crops while supporting sustainable energy initiatives.
Given sorghum’s drought resilience and your igrowth® technology, how is super genetics enhancing sorghum’s potential as a biofuel crop in water-stressed regions?
Sorghum is already recognized for its exceptional drought tolerance, making it a strong candidate for biofuel production in water-stressed regions. What sets our approach apart is the integration of igrowth® technology, which brings an added layer of resilience through its unique tolerance to IMI herbicides allowing unmatched weed control capabilities. By reducing competition for water and nutrients, igrowth® enables sorghum to perform more efficiently under challenging conditions.
When combined with superior genetics, this technology allows us to deliver hybrids that produce more grain per hectare, particularly in environments with limited water availability. The result is a more sustainable and productive crop—one that not only meets the demands of ethanol production but also supports farmers with reliable yields and improved resource efficiency.
What is the strategic significance of acquiring K-Adriatica’s corn assets for Advanta?
The acquisition of K-Adriatica’s corn assets enhances the diversity of our portfolio. What this partnership brings is a broader range of hybrids with varying maturity levels and disease resistance profiles, which opens new opportunities for product positioning in existing temperate markets.
This added diversity allows us to better tailor our offerings to specific agro-climatic conditions in regions like North India, Australia and Europe. By integrating these genetics into our breeding programs, we can develop hybrids that are not only high yielding but also resilient and well-suited to local challenges in the temperate climate.
Most importantly, this strategic move strengthens our ability to deliver more targeted, high-performing solutions to farmers across a wider range of environments.
With the new sweet corn seed facility in Thailand through your KPAGRO partnership, you’re now exporting to 34+ countries. Which new markets are you targeting next, and what role does Thailand play in your global supply chain strategy?
Our partnership with KPAGRO and the expansion of our sweet corn seed facility in Thailand reflect our commitment to delivering high-quality seed solutions globally. Thailand has been a strategic hub for Advanta for over 40 years, and its role in our supply chain continues to grow. The region’s proven sweet corn genetics have helped us establish leadership across Asia, and now we’re expanding into Africa and the Americas.
This investment strengthens our ability to serve diverse markets sustainably, ensuring consistent supply and access to innovative, high-performing genetics. Thailand’s infrastructure, regulatory environment, and proximity to key markets make it an ideal base for scaling our operations and responding quickly to global demand.
Looking ahead, we’re targeting new markets in Africa and Latin America where sweet corn demand is rising and where our tailored solutions can make a meaningful impact on farmer productivity and food quality.
Advanta Seeds and KPAGRO Open New Sweet Corn Seed Drying Facility in Lopburi
You’ve secured Plant Variety Protection for your okra hybrid ‘Raadhika.’ How is intellectual property protection shaping your R&D investments and product development strategy?
Intellectual property protection is keystone of our R&D strategy at Advanta. Every proprietary technology and hybrid we develop is the result of decades of dedicated breeding efforts across multiple crops and geographies. Securing Plant Variety Protection (PVP) for our okra hybrid ‘Raadhika’ is a significant milestone—not only for safeguarding our innovation, but also as a testament to the growing institutional support for protecting the investments of professional seed companies.
This kind of protection reinforces our confidence to invest in high-quality germplasm and advanced breeding technologies, knowing that our innovations will be respected and valued. It also sends a strong signal to the industry, especially in markets like India, that there is a robust framework in place to encourage innovation and ensure that farmers have access to superior, high-performing products.
Ultimately, IP protection enables us to continue delivering value to farmers through improved yield, quality, and resilience—while also supporting the broader goal of advancing agricultural productivity and sustainability.
Beyond the digital technologies mentioned last year, what new precision agriculture tools or data analytics are you providing to help farmers optimize yields with your biofuel crops?
Precision agriculture is a broad and evolving concept, encompassing a wide range of tools and approaches. At Advanta, we leverage precision agriculture and big data not only to accelerate crop development but also to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of our product development and selection processes. This allows us to bring better-performing hybrids to market faster, more accurately and with greater relevance to specific farming conditions and needs.
One of our key focuses is precise product positioning—ensuring that farmers in each region receive tailored recommendations on how to best utilize our products. This is one of the most valuable contributions a seed company can offer: helping farmers maximize their resources and achieve optimal yields for their growing conditions.
A strong example of this is our work with corn for ethanol production in India. By using precision data and analytics, we’ve been able to identify and position the right corn hybrids for regions supplying ethanol mills. This targeted approach ensures that farmers benefit from genetics specifically suited to their environment and market needs, resulting in higher yields and better returns. At the same time, it strengthens the entire value chain—from farmer to processor—by aligning product performance with end-use requirements.
Ultimately, our goal is to combine innovation with local insight, enabling sustainable productivity and supporting the growing demand for biofuels in a way that benefits both farmers and the planet.
How do you see the role of innovation and new technologies in the future of Advanta and sustainable agriculture?
At Advanta, innovation and new technologies are not just enablers—they are essential to shaping the future of sustainable agriculture. However, while emerging technologies can significantly enhance product potential, they cannot replace the foundational importance of robust hybrid development. High-performing products remain the cornerstone of our strategy, and any innovation must be meaningfully integrated into these products to deliver real value for farmers.
New technologies that accelerate breeding cycles or improve disease and herbicide tolerance are powerful tools, but their impact depends on how effectively they are embedded into our core offerings. Achieving predictable and reliable yields is especially critical in the face of climate change, where resilience and consistency are key.
Looking ahead, we see tremendous potential in areas such as biologicals, precision farming, and AI-driven analytics. These innovations offer tailored, region-specific solutions that can adapt to varying farm sizes, local regulations, and environmental conditions. Ultimately, we believe that technology can not only boost productivity but also support sustainable practices—ensuring that agriculture meets the nutritional needs of a growing population while minimizing its environmental footprint.
Source : Agropages
