Savvy Seed Decisions - 6

24 Oct 2024

EDITOR'S NOTE: Row-crop farmers make dozens of decisions that affect the crops they grow, but perhaps none is more important than the seed they select. In a special series called Savvy Seed Decisions, DTN/Progressive Farmer examined often unseen facets of the seed industry that affect what farmers put in their planters.

Today, in our sixth and final story of the series, we get an update on the latest advancements in the trait pipeline from BASF, Bayer, Corteva and Syngenta.

DECATUR, Ill. (DTN) -- Innovation is more than a buzzword when it comes to the 2025 seeds and trait pipeline. In the coming year, the largest seed and trait suppliers in the industry plan to deliver on the promise of several product advancements.

Read on for a snapshot of what's in store. The information comes directly from the companies and was lightly edited. Keep in mind that other seed companies license technologies from these trait providers, too.

BASF

It's proving to be a pivotal year for BASF soybean seed, helping farmers maximize yield on every acre and ensuring the future of soybean production in the U.S. Seed products as unique as each field are coming within new Xitavo soybean seed products available for the 2025 planting season, as well as a proprietary line of germplasm developed and sold exclusively by BASF. The company has also recently announced the development of the first and only biotechnology trait for nematode control in soybeans, which will be available to growers later in the decade.

-- New soybean seed products. Nineteen new Xitavo soybean seed products will be available for the 2025 planting season, powered by the new, proprietary germplasm exclusively from BASF and created for performance and adaptability. These offerings join the existing soybean seed portfolio covering relative maturities of 0.0 to 4.8. Xitavo seed products focus on breeding varieties that will help raise overall average yields for growers while also providing germplasm differentiation to help growers reduce risk by having more genetic diversity on-farm. With strong emergence and standability alongside traits that help fight key diseases, such as brown stem rot, white mold and sudden death syndrome, growers will find varieties that work for their unique field conditions.

-- First GM SCN trait. Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) is one of the leading causes of soybean yield loss in the U.S. and contributes to an estimated $1.5 billion in economic losses for soybean farmers each year. BASF has spent the last two decades developing Nemasphere nematode resistance trait, the most groundbreaking innovation in SCN management in the last 60 years. Harnessing a completely novel mode of action, it will be the first and only biotechnology trait for SCN, producing a protein that prevents nematode feeding damage by interfering with nutrient uptake in the pest. This trait has been shown to deliver an average 8% yield boost. Nemasphere will be made available to the market through an MS Technologies/Corteva collaboration, beginning with Xitavo soybean seed varieties in 2028, pending registration.

BAYER

Bayer's research and development (R&D) pipeline illustrates its dedication to providing farmers with a steady stream of products that will enable them to produce more while preserving nature through innovations with regenerative agriculture at their core. Over the next decade, Bayer plans to launch 10 products that will help farmers in the U.S. and worldwide.

The pipeline includes transformative technologies such as icafolin, the first new postemergent herbicide mode of action in decades; a biotech version of the reduced stature Preceon Smart Corn System; a fourth-generation corn rootworm technology that contains RNA interference (RNAi) technology; and fourth- and fifth-generation soybean herbicide tolerance traits.&t;/p>

-- Corn advancements. With improved standability in high winds and challenging weather conditions, the Preceon Smart Corn System is expected to transform corn production and reach more than 220 million acres globally. The system allows farmers to better protect crops through easier access during the season, enabling more precise crop-protection tools and inputs. The targeted commercial launch of the conventional breeding short-stature corn approach earlier this year (2024) is supported by advancement of the biotech version of the system, which has now advanced to Phase 4.

-- Weed-control strategies. Digitalization has also been a key factor in advances in application technology and data science, and Bayer has been relying on artificial intelligence (AI) in its quest to help farmers control challenging weeds. For example, Bayer's icafolin product will be the industry's first new mode of action herbicide in nearly 30 years when it launches in 2028. Through its CropKey approach, Bayer is using AI to help speed up the process by matching the protein structure of a weed with a molecule that targets that structure. This approach enables the company to canvass huge amounts of data to find these matches.

Additionally, HT4, Bayer's fourth-generation trait, has an anticipated launch late this decade, pending regulatory approvals. It is built on XtendFlex technology with glyphosate, dicamba and glufosinate tolerance, plus tolerance to 2,4-D and mesotrione, an HPPD inhibitor. HT4 will add additional herbicide traits to give growers improved flexibility with more choices than ever in their weed management.

CORTEVA AGRISCIENCE

Corteva Agriscience is celebrating its fifth anniversary (Dow and DuPont merger) with a mission to deliver cutting-edge solutions to help farmers feed and fuel the world. The 2025 R&D pipeline doubles down on this commitment with the launch of Pioneer brand Z-Series soybeans; a ramp-up of Vorceed Enlist corn, PowerCore Enlist corn and Optimum GLY canola; and continued momentum of the Enlist weed-control system.

-- New era in soybeans. Corteva has made significant investments in soybean R&D to give farmers more choice and differentiation. Pioneer brand Z-Series soybeans deliver a generational leap in yield potential and agronomic performance, with a 2.7-bushel-per-acre (bpa) advantage over Pioneer brand A-Series varieties (based on company 2023 Impact trial comparisons). For 2025, Corteva anticipates a full launch of Z-Series soybeans, with greater quantities across maturities available, plus an introductory stewarded launch of Pioneer brand Plenish high oleic soybean varieties with the Enlist E3 soybean trait.

Enlist E3 soybeans continue to set a new standard in weed control and yield performance. Brevant brand Enlist E3 soybeans feature unique Corteva germplasm for ag retail's offering.

Additionally, Corteva, BASF and MS Technologies have a trait-licensing agreement to develop next-generation Enlist E3 soybeans with the Nemasphere SCN resistance trait for a North American launch late decade, pending applicable regulatory reviews and completion of field testing.

-- Advanced corn performance. The newest corn technologies, Vorceed Enlist and PowerCore Enlist Refuge Advanced (RA) corn, focus on above- and belowground insect protection. Vorceed Enlist corn is the next generation of corn rootworm protection with the power of a novel RNAi mode of action and four herbicide tolerances to 2,4-D choline, glyphosate, glufosinate and FOP herbicides. PowerCore Enlist RA corn combines enhanced weed and aboveground pest control in a single bag.

In the next few years, Corteva expects to launch reduced-stature corn. Longer term, farmers can look forward to multi-disease resistance to improve plant health through CRISPR technology.

-- Flexibility in canola. Optimum GLY is the most advanced herbicide-tolerant trait technology in canola from Corteva. It's designed to deliver enhanced weed control and a wide window of herbicide application.

SYNGENTA SEEDS

Syngenta Seeds focuses on strengthening the R&D engine by enhancing speed and power with product precision and a relentless focus on the farmer. Its commitment to being innovative has led to improving germplasm performance, launching stacked, next-generation differentiated traits and demonstrating regenerative agriculture cropping systems that benefit farmers, consumers and the planet. Every acre matters, and Syngenta products are designed to benefit American farmers, who are at the heart of everything they do.

-- Corn investments. Syngenta Seeds continues to develop hybrids while keeping an eye on performance. Its latest class, including more Viptera traits in products and more Duracade traits in the portfolio, delivers a robust lineup of agricultural innovations set to strengthen and enhance farming productivity while driving innovation in the field. Farmers in the northern Corn Belt can continue to expect high-performing hybrids, as the new class of 100-day hybrids delivers some of the best performance potential seen in year-over-year trials. Plus, new in 2024, Syngenta is launching the DuracadeViptera trait stack in its Enogen brand portfolio, a comprehensive solution for pest control, simplicity and choice that protects against 16 yield-damaging above- and below-ground insect pests. And, launching in 2026 is a new molecular stack providing improved control of corn rootworm.

-- Soybean strides. New tech and infrastructure only matter if the core business is at its best. A more-than-50-year legacy of soybean breeding provides diversity in Syngenta's portfolio. The company will continue delivering new traits to the market while providing trait choice through proprietary genetics for both major herbicide trait platforms (Enlist E3 and XtendFlex soybeans).

-- Hybrid wheat. Syngenta launched additional wheat hybrids in 2024 after a successful 2023 season that offered limited acreage of F1 spring wheat hybrids in the Northern Plains. Wheat is now on the list of crops that have benefited from combining strong parents to produce hybrid vigor.

Savvy Seed Decisions - 6

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