Consumer interest in food transparency is at an all-time high, and there is no doubt it will continue to grow in the United States and around the world. Helena is diligently developing products and harnessing new technologies to help growers provide crops that meet the demands of our increasingly environmentally conscious market. We believe biodiversity, prescription agriculture, and the sound application of data will shape this new era of agriculture.
While biological products make headlines in today’s landscape, it’s a sector many growers have embraced for years. Helena has been a pioneer in this space for decades with products derived from humic sources, plant extracts and other biological components. Today our research and development team is studying a variety of biocontrol methods with the goal of producing products that offer proven protection along with environmentally friendly advantages. It’s a growing part of our annual commitment to research that now exceeds $4 million in 3rd party trials that study the impact of new technology on a variety of crops in over 40 states.
The shift toward sustainable crop production must be holistic to be successful. Synthetic chemistries will remain instrumental in feeding the global population. Our chemists aim to revolutionize traditional agricultural chemicals with unique formulation technologies. Whether the goal is to reduce active ingredient rates or improve nutrient use efficiency, these technologies are creating ways to minimize our impact while maintaining the necessary level of production. Helena’s collaboration with global suppliers of the industry’s leading molecules is invaluable to this mission. The combination of new chemistry and our innovations will continue to provide added value to growers and position Helena as a leader in formulation.
Food traceability requires everyone to do their part in creating a supply chain consumers can trust. Helena’s digital platform dates back almost 30 years. The implementation of on-farm digital intelligence systems is helping us manage crops on an acre-by-acre basis. It creates a reality where every input is chosen based on the agronomic requirements of the crop, application rates and methods are optimized, resource consumption is routinely measured, and harvest levels year after year reveal the impact of our efforts. This can only be achieved if we make the collection of data a priority across the entire food system. With employees dedicated to this task at retail locations around the country, our people are helping customers integrate these tools into their operations for lasting impact.
As the business of agriculture evolves, so does the regulatory environment. Helena is committed to helping growers navigate complex state and federal requirements in order to keep their operations running safely and effectively. Through our involvement with trade associations such as CropLife America, Council of Producers and Distributors of Agrotechnology (CPDA) and Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA), along with our active governmental affairs department, Helena supports policies that balance the growth of our industry with the protection of the land and our consumers.