After years of rigorous local trials across varied growing conditions, a globally recognised seed brand is making its South African debut. InteliGro has introduced Croplan, with a white maize hybrid as the first cultivar in the range.
Croplan is a well-established brand of the US-based agricultural company WinField United. Janet Lawless, marketing manager at InteliGro, said for them, it was essential that any hybrid introduced locally had first been thoroughly tested under South African conditions.
She added that cultivar selection was not based on genetics alone, but also on robust trial data and local experience.
Years of trials lead to Croplan’s SA rollout
“The focus is not simply to introduce another seed product, but to equip producers with better data and agronomic support to enable more informed production decisions.
“The project has been in development for nearly eight years, following InteliGro’s initial engagement with WinField United in the United States to explore potential collaboration,” she said.
Barry Erasmus, commercial manager at InteliGro, said the priority from the outset was to identify the right genetics and build the right partnerships before introducing the brand locally.
“For producers, trust in seed is fundamental. That is why traceability and consistent quality were non-negotiable for us,” he said.
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Erasmus added that the aim is to combine proven genetics with local insight and practical support, giving producers greater confidence in their planting decisions.
Christo Jacobs, seed specialist at InteliGro, explained that the hybrids were tested across a range of production environments. “We conducted trials in different regions to understand where each hybrid performs best. Consistency across seasons and conditions remains a key requirement.”
Improving crop performance
Meanwhile, Lawless said the combined approach provides a more complete picture of crop performance. “We don’t look at a product in isolation, but at the entire production system from soil data and plant population to nutrition and climate. This enables producers to make more informed decisions.
“Any company can sell products. What makes the difference is the knowledge and support behind those products. Good seed alone is not enough if the rest of the production system is not managed correctly,” she said.
“We see this as a partnership. Producers’ knowledge of their farms and cultivars is just as important as ours. It’s a journey we undertake together where genetics, nutrition, management and knowledge come together.”
Gerrie Ludick, technical marketing specialist and row crop expert at InteliGro, says genetics determines the potential of a crop but not necessarily the final yield.
“The genetic potential of a hybrid is fixed. What producers can influence is how close they farm to that potential. That is where agronomic knowledge, nutrition and management play a critical role.
“Producers know how to manage their farms, but there are many factors in crop production that are not always visible. Our role is to work alongside them, using better information to support better decision-making,” Ludick said.
Producers will also be able to view the new white maize hybrid at Nampo Harvest Day, taking place from 12 to 15 May 2026 in Bothaville, Free State. Initial commercial volumes remain limited, but seed production is already being scaled up for future seasons.
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