Syngenta will be revealing its new X-Terra wheat range as part of its Cereals crop plots, in what the company says is the first chance for UK growers to “get close” to the technology. It’s the first commercially scalable wheat in Europe, expected to be available in 2027.
Hybrid barley plots will also be on show and according to Oxfordshire area manager Scott Cockburn, the value of hybrid vigour will be easily visible in the thin Cotswold Brash soil.
It’s also the chance to get a look at what the company describes as an agronomist’s new best friend, Robodog. Developed with the help of Nottingham University and used by the company as part of its R&D programme, it claims to bring new insights into crop management. Robodog is equipped with high-quality camera technology to capture precise, three-dimensional plant imagery, while a graphical processing unit (GPU) runs computer vision models to give early insight into disease, pest and weed threats.
According to Syngneta, Robodog has a battery life of up to four hours and its nimble body can carefully navigate crop rows, without damaging the plants or disrupting soil, gathering precious data without leaving a trace – other than paw prints.
