Following a challenging 2025/26 season, marked by periods of oversupply and prices that were largely unfavourable — except at the end of March and during April — the brassica sector in Spain is preparing for a new planning cycle in which crop area is expected to remain stable. José Guirado, Market Development Brassicas Iberia at Bayer, explains that the company has already launched its pre-season events in the Ebro Valley, Murcia and Andalusia to present a roadmap focused on operational efficiency and cycle specialisation.
The Seminis brand continues to strengthen its position through innovations designed to address labour shortages and climatic challenges. In this context, its High Rise concept is emerging as the present of the crop, thanks to plant architecture adapted to mechanical harvesting, a decisive factor for the profitability of today’s industrial operations.
Popocatépetl and new solutions for Murcia
For the 2026/27 season, Bayer is introducing two high-value pre-commercial innovations. The first is Popocatépetl, a material already produced in Mexico for export to the United States, now arriving in Spain to complement Andersia. With similar agronomic behaviour and a slightly earlier cycle, it is ideal for August sowings in processing areas.
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For the fresh market in the Region of Murcia, Bayer is also presenting SVBL0362. Although it shares many similarities with Titanium, this new variety is adapted to October and November transplants with a 100-day cycle. Guirado highlights its elevated head, clean stem and high vigour, together with a domed curd of significant weight.
Francesca: a new cauliflower benchmark
In cauliflower, where Bayer offers a complete range of between 15 and 20 varieties across the Iberian Peninsula, the main novelty is Francesca. Following its success in northern Europe, this pre-commercial variety is entering the trial phase in all Spanish production areas.
It is a conventional cauliflower that, within the company’s portfolio, serves as a transition between Marmorex and Ovindoli, one of Bayer’s three best-selling varieties in Spain. With an 80–85 day cycle, it offers uniform harvesting and exceptional curd quality for the fresh market, complementing the brand’s traditional catalogue, through which Bayer covers all transplant cycles throughout the year.
