Fluorescing Crops Cuts Pesticide Use

Fluorescing Crops Cuts Pesticide Use CROPS New Techniques Genes inserted into corn soybeans and cotton will soon tell farmers when and where to apply pesticides or nitrogen InnerPlant places genes that produce a fluorescing protein next to immune function genes Those genes go into overdrive producing an immune response when the plant is invaded by pests or other stresses When the immune function kicks in so does the fluorescing gene “We already have two soybean varieties with the ability to react to fungal attacks ” says Sean Yokomizo InnerPlant “Next will come traits for insect and nitrogen stress ” Research is ongoing on corn and cotton Corn varieties aren’t expected to reach fields for several years Cotton will follow The 2024 crop year will see InnerPlant-engineered soybeans in four plots in four different locations At the same time InnerPlant is working with seed companies to bulk up the production of seeds with the traits Over the next 3 years the company plans to expand throughout the major soybean-producing states Initially the stress-reacting plants will be sprinkled throughout fields to act as sentinels Eventually the genes will be in all the seeds planted in the field much as other engineered traits are today When the plants react and sensors pick up the fluorescent coloring farmers will know they have a problem and where in the field it is “The plants will signal they’re infected with a fungus within 48 to 72 hrs well before it can be seen in the field without the trait ” says Yokomizo InnerPlant recently announced a partnership with John Deere and Syngenta It’s been working with John Deere to fine-tune its on-board cameras to detect the fluorescence Under the partnership to create a Precision Integrated Platform InnerPlant will use satellites to detect a fungal attack over several acres or more Syngenta will recommend the appropriate product and timing In the field John Deere applicators will use onboard sensing to determine where to apply product Analysis by John Deere and InnerPlant researchers suggests that early stress sensing could save farmers money by reducing pesticide applications by up to 75 percent Yokomizo notes that sensing nitrogen stress is in its early stages However researchers expect the crop genes will react to it within the same 48 to 72 hrs as with fungi Tomatoes were InnerPlant’s model crop for developing an immune response to water stress Tomatoes were chosen in part for the ability to do multiple generations in a single year That work verified tried and true placement of the genetic material ” explains Yokomizo Early research by the company detected water stress in tomatoes in that same time period Once water had been applied the fluorescing gene shut down Yokomizo explains that water stress isn’t as significant a factor in the targeted commodity crops This is why the company is working on detecting immune responses to fungi insects and nitrogen “The fungal and insect reaction signals are broad ” says Yokomizo “The value is in the early warning of a fungal issue and we don’t want anything to slip by ” As the fungal trait comes to market InnerPlant intends to price the trait similarly to how Monsanto first priced the Roundup Ready trait which was around $8 per acre “It’s been interesting that as the Roundup Ready trait increased in price its effectiveness decreased with weed resistance increasing ” says Yokomizo “We expect our traits to get more effective over time at no increased trait license fee as we gather more data and modify them for things like weather ” Yokomizo expects adaptation to be fast as the company has already received approval from the USDA and is currently going through the FDA process He notes that the European Union has a fairly standard path for clearance “We don’t expect it’ll be long before our traits are in farmer-preferred germplasm seed ” says Yokomizo “Then farmers will be able to spray only when it’s needed ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup InnerPlant 202 Cousteau Place Suite 150 Davis Calif 95618 hello@innerplant com; www innerplant com

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