Addressing Soaring Input Costs: Lidea Focuses on Nitrogen Efficiency with Genetic Solutions for Farm Profitability

Lescar, 30 April 2026 – In an economic climate marked by unprecedented volatility, managing fertilisation has become the priority lever for farm performance. Lidea, a leading European seed company, is supporting farmers with practical innovations to optimise every unit of nitrogen applied and secure yields.

Today, nitrogen represents the single biggest expense for many crops. This pressure on profitability requires a paradigm shift. As Anthony Rodrigues E Silva, Technical Development Coordinator at Lidea, explains:

"Lidea has been incorporating nitrogen efficiency into its breeding programmes for years".

Lidea is deploying a portfolio of innovative solutions focused on biostimulation, genetics, and natural synergies.

1. Maize: The Biological Booster with Nitro Boost

Nitro Boost is a next-generation seed treatment that combines plant metabolism enhancement with biofertilisation.

• Action: Utilises beneficial bacteria to capture atmospheric nitrogen and unlock soil-based nitrogen.
• Benefit: Enables a reduction in mineral nitrogen input by 20 to 40 units per hectare while maintaining optimal yields.

2. Rapeseed: Azot Master Genetic Innovation

The result of 10 years of research and development, the Azot Master approach is based on a network of 1,500 micro-plots across Europe.

• Performance in limiting conditions: Azot Master varieties outperform the market best by more than 8% under nitrogen stress.
• Yield gain: Up to an 11% yield gain in non-limiting conditions thanks to the optimal utilisation of remaining units.

3. Soybean and Alfalfa: "Zero-Nitrogen" Crops 

Soybean and alfalfa are pillars of economic resilience due to their symbiotic fixation capabilities.

• Total Autonomy: Thanks to Bradyrhizobium bacteria, soybean meets 100% of its nutritional needs without mineral fertiliser.
• Rotation Benefits: After harvest, soybean residues release between 30 and 40 units of nitrogen for the next crop.
• Forage Efficiency: Alfalfa can fix up to 250kg of nitrogen/ha/year, boosting the next two crops in the rotation.

Using cover crop mixtures rich in legumes transforms the intercrop period into a genuine investment. These mixtures can release up to 60 units of nitrogen for the following crop while improving soil structure and carbon storage.

For Cédric Poeydomenge, Head of Strategic Marketing at Lidea, the objective is clear:

"Our innovation addresses the economic resilience of farming systems... we are expanding the range of tools available to growers to reduce their dependence on global energy markets".

About Lidea

For over 80 years, Lidea has developed high-quality seeds (maize, sunflower, cereals, rapeseed, soybean, sorghum, and cover crops) to meet the needs of the food, feed, and energy markets.