Evrosem has been a part of the International Sunflower Association (ISA) for the fourth year now, an international professional community that brings together specialists, scientists, researchers and companies interested in technical progress in sunflower production and processing. The organization was founded in June 1964.
For us, this is not just a status in an international directory. It is an opportunity to be directly included in the professional environment, exchange experience with colleagues from different countries, maintain professional contacts and develop international cooperation in the field of sunflower breeding, genetics, agronomy and research.
Evrosem in the international sunflower community
Evrosem’s membership in ISA is presented through Dmitry Shatsman, the company’s director and head of the company’s research department. The official catalog of the International Sunflower Association indicates that the company joined the association in 2023.
Dmytro Shatsman’s professional interests include seeds and genetics, crop production, agronomy and plant physiology. He has over 20 years of experience in the production of sunflower hybrids in Ukraine and many years of research work with Orobanche cumana.
It is the combination of practical experience, breeding work and scientific research that is an important part of Evrosem’s approach to the creation and development of hybrids.
International contacts — for the development of Ukrainian breeding
Sunflower is a crop that requires constant development of genetics and technologies. Climate change, droughts, new races of Orobanche cumana, diseases and other stress factors constantly pose new challenges to breeders. Therefore, it is important for us not to work in isolation from global trends.
Participation in the international professional community provides an opportunity to maintain contacts with sunflower industry specialists from different countries, discuss research results, exchange practical experience and engage in professional dialogue on current challenges of the crop.
For Evrosem, this is part of a systematic approach to research and breeding: we work to ensure that Ukrainian experience and field research results are part of a broader international professional context.
A separate direction — sunflower broomrape research
One of the important directions of Evrosem’s research work is sunflower broomrape — one of the most difficult challenges for sunflower producers.
Evrosem systematically studies the problem of broomrape in Ukraine. This work includes monitoring the spread of the parasite, studying its racial composition, assessing the stability of sunflower genetics and finding effective approaches to controlling the problem.
International cooperation in this direction is especially important, because broomrape is not limited to the borders of individual countries. The emergence and spread of new races of the parasite create a common challenge for the sunflower industry in different regions.
From international cooperation to the field of a Ukrainian farmer
For Evrosem, international activity has a specific practical goal – the development of genetics and technologies that work in Ukrainian conditions.
We continue to study hybrids in different soil and climatic conditions, evaluate their adaptability, resistance to stress and yield potential. The creation of new productive and plastic hybrids such as the PRODUCTIVO line from Evrosem are significant steps in this direction.
After all, modern breeding is not only about creating a hybrid with high potential. It is about working to ensure that genetics can realize themselves in a real field – during drought, unstable weather, different levels of agrobackground and other challenges that Ukrainian farmers face every year. And it is precisely with such challenges that hybrids from the PRODUCTIVO line cope.
Four years in ISA — and work continues
During four years of participation in the International Sunflower Association, Evrosem continues to develop international professional ties and research direction.
We are convinced: strong breeding is born where field experience, science, genetics and international knowledge exchange work together.
Evrosem continues to invest in sunflower research, develop its own genetics and cooperate with the professional community to create solutions that meet the real challenges of modern agricultural production.
International cooperation for us is not a formal status. It is another tool for the development of Ukrainian breeding and the creation of new generation seeds.