Water scarcity and high fertilizer use in cane production saw costs mount while the environment suffered. What’s more, international buyers were increasingly demanding sustainably produced sugar from Thailand. In response, UPL Corp developed the ProNutiva® program in collaboration with farmers and the sugar supply chain.
ProNutiva® integrates biosolutions with conventional protection to improve yield, use resources more efficiently and support sustainable agriculture. Following its introduction, farmers report production increases of 12%, costs falling by 20%, and water and nutrient consumption going down by 25%.
For the ProNutiva program, UPL Corp Thailand worked with its partner BAKA which has direct relationships with 30 sugar factories and decades of experience advising farmers. This helped drive fast adoption of UPL Corp solutions for more sustainable sugar production, especially three key products.
Irrigation costs remain a significant challenge for sugarcane producers. Zeba, a Natural Plant Protection (NPP) Biosolution, is a moisture-retaining granule that forms a hydrogel around the root zone slowly releasing water according to plant requirements. Farmers can use water resources more effectively and crops are much less likely to suffer from drought stress, preserving vital yield.
K-tionic® is an NPP Biosolution that transforms existing soil nutrients into available forms that plants can readily absorb. This promotes stronger root development and better nutrient uptake, helping crops stay resilient during environmental stress including drought and salinity while reducing reliance on conventional fertilizers.
The benefit is resilient plants with lower input requirements for conventional fertilizer, helping sugarcane producers meet environmental targets and access markets for sustainable sugar. To further enhance crop performance, cane farmers have the option of using the NPP Biosolution Pillatus which supports overall plant health, productivity and yield.
Farmers Vachrapong of Kanchanaburi Province, and Khongsak of Kampanphet province have been part of the ProNutiva® program for the last three years to optimize soil moisture and nutrient availability while reducing irrigation costs. They have seen yield increases up to 25% and an improvement in quality with more milllable cane.