TRANSFERÊNCIA DE TECNOLOGIA PARA CULTIVARES DE SOJA DESENVOLVIDAS PELA EMBRAPA SOJA PARA O PARANÁ 1

During the 1990/1991 growing season, Embrapa Soybean and Embrapa Technology Transfer started a joint program of technology transfer for soybean cultivars with seed producers. The methodology used consisted of planning the activities of technology transfer, establishment and management for demonstration units, field follow-ups, implementation of field days, and evaluation of the activities therein developed, with the participation and feedback provided during all the steps by the seed producers engaged in the program. This work carried out with the Embrapa soybean-breeding program and in synchrony with the seed production sector resulted in Embrapa's cultivars sharing an average of 50% of the total soybean seeds produced in the State of Parana, starting with 3% in 1990 and reaching 64% in 2003. The results achieved clearly show the importance of incorporating technology transfer into plant breeding research projects.