Genetic Research & Development Bayer Crop Science Expands Research Cooperation with American Genetics Specialist

Bayer Crop Science and the research company Nature Source Genetics, based in Ithaca, New York, USA, have signed an agreement to expand their cooperation: Both companies agreed on a five-year collaboration involving the pre-breeding and enhancement of soybean germplasm.

Monheim/Germany; Ithaca/USA – The goal of this new cooperation is to create improved seed by making use of innovative technologies to identify and incorporate previously non detectable, naturally occurring genes, Bayer stated. Financial terms have not been disclosed.

The partnership will combine the expertise of Bayer Crop Science’s soybean breeders and geneticists with Nature Source Genetics’ technical know-how and the company’s bioanalytical platform to identify and utilize the full range of promising germplasm. The partnership also builds on a successful cotton partnership, which began in 2008.

"Access to New and Valuable Sources of Genetic Diversity"

"The collaboration between Bayer Crop Science and Nature Source Genetics marks a significant expansion in the strategic scope of our soybean breeding program", said Mike Gilbert, Head of Global Breeding and Trait Development at Bayer Crop Science. "With this partnership, we now have access to new and valuable sources of genetic diversity in soybeans, which we can incorporate into our already robust breeding program to further expand and improve the products we offer growers worldwide."

This agreement will provide the researchers with the opportunity to identify high value genes in previously unused genetic material and incorporate these new genes into commercial germplasm, the company explained.

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