Bayer Crop Science (BSC), a subsidiary of German multinational pharmaceutical and life sciences company Bayer AG, has released a new genetically modified corn hybrid seeds in the Philippines which can result in higher yields and income for farmers.

Bayer Crop Science said that its new product, Dekalb 8282S, has shown reliable performance in both wet and dry seasons with strong resistance to a wide variety of pests, protecting potential yield that can bring Filipino farmers an estimated net income of as much as P70,000 per hectare.

“We've called it a 'blockbuster' hybrid because we have that much faith in this new hybrid. It will be a big help to our farmers in the corn business and they can be assured of the high quality that has always been associated with the Dekalb brand," BSC Philippines Country Commercial Lead Iiinas Ivan Lao said in a statement.

Achieving full maturity at 110 days, Dekalb 8282S has a relatively high shelling recovery at 84 percent, which is higher than the 72 percent of other hybrids.

It is also capable of yielding up to 6.2 metric tons (MT) to 8 MT per hectare, which is an increase of 1.7 MT per hectare compared to the Philippines’ national corn average yield of 4.5 to 5 MT per hectare.

Given a conservative price of P15 per kilo at farm gate, farmers can earn a gross revenue of P120,000 per hectare. This is equivalent to P50,000 to P70,000 net income given cost of P50,000 and yield of 8 MT per hectare.

Dekalb 8282S also has strong resistance to the highly destructive Fall ArmyWorm (FAW), which has infested corn farms across the Philippines.

So far, it is the only corn seed in the market that has full approval for FAW-resistance from the Fertilizer and Pest Authority (FPA).

Meanwhile, another notable trait of Dekalb 8282S is its durability in either rainy or drought periods as evidenced by its stable high yield whether in drought-prone Isabela or the rain-rich farms in Pangasinan.

Erwin Vibal, grower marketing head at BCS, said the corn market in the Philippines is continuously evolving.

“Year on year, farmer demands change, price fluctuations, drought or heavy rains contribute to farmers’ unstable production. This is why Bayer is launching the Dekalb 8282S in the Philippines,” Vibal said.

“We want farmers to have a stable, reliable product that they can count on to perform despite difficult market and weather conditions and infestations – and Dekalb has a hybrid that provides that protection from risks and losses in corn production,” he added.