Seed Companies Team up on Traits

By DTN Staff

OMAHA (DTN) -- Soybean traits are stacking up. BASF, Corteva Agriscience and MS Technologies have a trait licensing agreement to develop next-generation Enlist E3 soybeans for the United States and Canada. The trait stack will include a new nematode-resistant soybean (NRS) trait.

As part of this agreement, Corteva and MS Technologies have licensed the Enlist E3 soybean trait to BASF for development with the NRS trait in BASF germplasm. BASF has licensed its NRS trait to Corteva and MS Technologies for use in Enlist E3 soybeans. The three companies anticipate commercialization of new seed varieties in the late 2020s, according to a joint press announcement. Actual launch timing will depend on regulatory reviews and completion of field testing.

The new NRS trait is expected to provide a new source of protection against nematode pests in soybeans, including soybean cyst nematode (SCN). A common parasite in North America, SCN accounts for more than $1 billion in economic losses for UI.S. farmers each year. The NRS trait provides yield protection that is different than standard native SCN resistance traits, including PI88788 and Peking. It will also provide protection against economically important nematode species for soybean farmers beyond North America.

"Our nematode-resistant soybean trait will be the first commercially available biotechnology trait developed to control nematodes," Linda Trolinder, senior vice president of BASF seeds and traits R&D, said in the announcement. "BASF is in its fifth year of advanced field testing the NRS trait in the U.S. and in our trials, it has demonstrated an average 8% yield benefit above today's SCN-resistant varieties."

The Enlist weed control system is an industry-leading system for soybeans, corn and cotton. Enlist E3 soybeans are tolerant to 2,4-D choline, glyphosate and glufosinate herbicides, giving farmers additional options to manage resistant and hard-to-control weeds.

"Farmers have embraced the Enlist E3 soybean trait, which offers maximum flexibility among the industry's various weed-control systems," said Tim Glenn, executive vice president, seed business unit, Corteva Agriscience. "The addition of the NRS trait to Enlist E3 soybeans is a logical next step for Corteva. Offering both trait technologies together will provide soybean farmers with additional functionality for pest management."

The Enlist E3 soybean trait is jointly developed and owned by Corteva and MS Technologies and was commercialized in 2019.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. DTN will be following up with more details on this announcement as they become available.

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