An internationally established seed brand is entering the South African market following several seasons of local testing under diverse production conditions.
InteliGro has announced the local introduction of the Croplan® seed brand – globally associated with high-performance genetics and extensive trial data. The first cultivar in the range is a white maize hybrid that has been evaluated over the past few years on both trial plots and commercial farms, and will soon be on show at NAMPO Harvest Day 2026.
The seed will be distributed exclusively by InteliGro and forms part of the company’s broader strategy to combine international genetics with local agronomic expertise and reliable, field-based data.
Global brand, locally proven
Croplan is a well-established brand of the US-based agricultural company WinField United. Internationally, it is associated with rigorous field trials and detailed data analysis to assess hybrid performance across different environments.
“The Croplan brand carries strong global credibility,” says Janet Lawless, Marketing Manager at InteliGro. “For us, it was essential that any hybrid introduced locally had first been thoroughly tested under South African conditions.”
She adds that cultivar selection is not based on genetics alone, but also on robust trial data and local experience.
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.
Nearly a decade in development
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.
Barry Erasmus, Commercial Manager at InteliGro, says 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.”
Erasmus adds that the aim is to combine proven genetics with local insight and practical support, giving producers greater confidence in their planting decisions.
Trials on research plots and commercial farms
Once suitable hybrids had been identified, local trials were established to evaluate performance under South African conditions.
Christo Jacobs, Seed Specialist at InteliGro, explains 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.”
Trial data is supported by InteliGro’s Intelekt Solutions and InField Solutions programmes. Intelekt Solutions focuses on statistically sound small-plot trials, while InField Solutions captures data directly from producers’ fields to identify trends under practical farming conditions.
This combined approach provides a more complete picture of crop performance, says Lawless.
“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.”
More than just seed
Lawless emphasises that the introduction of Croplan forms part of a holistic approach to crop production.
“Any company can sell products,” she says. “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.”
InteliGro’s network of Crop Advisors works closely with producers to develop solutions tailored to their specific conditions.
“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.”
Genetics is only the start
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.”
He notes that modern crop production increasingly relies on reliable data and advanced technical insight.
“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.”
Ultimately, the goal remains simple, says Ludick: to help producers farm sustainably.
“At the end of the day, we want to ensure that producers are still farming successfully ten or twenty years from now.”
On show at NAMPO
The Croplan brand is currently being introduced at InteliGro’s “On the Road to Yield” information days across various production regions.
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.
Initial commercial volumes remain limited, but seed production is already being scaled up for future seasons.
“This is just the beginning,” says Lawless. “We are building a seed portfolio that will expand over time – always based on the same principle: combining genetics, data and local expertise. That is how we support producers in achieving both higher yields and stronger returns on their investment.”
InteliGro
Janet Lawless, Marketing Manager at InteliGro
Gerrie Ludick, Technical Marketing Specialist and row crop at InteliGro
