Sunflower

Lidea is one of the largest sunflower breeder and producer in the world. With a market share of over 15% and more than 3 million hectares of Lidea sunflower seeds sown each year, we use one of the largest sunflower research programs, constantly introducing new innovative varieties to the market. We test up to 8,000 hybrids each year, enabling the company to have the most comprehensive range of varieties in each market segment. The main goals of varietal selection in Lidea breeding are: productivity, resistance to disease and climatic stress, yield quality (fatty acid profile, oil and protein content). 

By choosing sunflower seeds from the Lidea farm, you get plants with an excellent yield potential. Our varieties are distinguished by good quality features such as early vigor and very good health.

WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING A SUNFLOWER VARIETY? 

1. Selection of seeds depending on the method of herbicide protection

Among the Lidea sunflower you will find conventional sunflower varieties (like ES Bella, ES Savana, ES Agora...), sunflower varieties with the Sulfo - Express^TM segment resistant to sulfonylureas (ES Aromatic SU, ES Ceylon SU, ES Argentic SU... ) or  sunflower protected by the Clearfield® and Clearfield® Plus (ES Genesis CLP, ES Janis CLP, ES Belfis CLP, ES Oasis CLP...). Clearfield® varieties are protected with Pulsar® and Pulsar® Plus.  

2. Selection depending on the precocity

Lidea offer a large range of sunflower from very early to late segment suitable for all Europe, Ukraine and Russia. The harvest date, depending on the variety and the country, is from August to mid-October. Lidea sales team are available to select with you the right moment of harvesting. In this phase, the moisture of the grain will be around 9%, to ensure the lowest losses during harvesting. Regardless of the choice, our varieties are very well suited to the climate of Europe and perform well. Lidea sunflower plants create a strong root system and a strong stem, ensuring high lodging resistance. They are also disease resistant.  

3. Selection depending on the type of oil

Sunflower seed contains up to 50% fat. The fat profile of sunflower seeds always includes linoleic acid, but in some varieties also oleic acid. In this way, you can also choose the variety of sunflower for sowing according your needs and outlets:

• linoleic, that is to say containing linoleic acid (like ES Bella, ES Ceylon SU, ES Oasis CLP... ),
• HOLL or high oleic, containing oleic (like ES Idillic, ES Aromatic SU, ES Emeric CLP...).

Linoleic varieties are widely used in gastronomy and cosmetology, while oleic varieties are used to extract oil used for high-temperature frying and baking.

IMPROVE YOUR PERFORMANCE with OUR SOLUTIONS

OR MASTER ®: Lidea is the leader in the market of Orobanche resistant varieties, proposed under the OR MASTER® brand. 

MILDEW MASTER ®: Discover the label gathering sunflower varieties thoroughly selected for the areas infested with downy mildew.  

See the sowing of our sunflower varieties in one of our breeding station.