b'I N D U S T R Y N E W SBASF and Solidaridad Team up to Empower Brazilian Farmers to Foster BiodiversityBASF and Solidaridad are collaborating to study the enhanced effects of sustainable farming on biodiver-sity, environmental preservation, and the coexistence of agriculture with important pollinators like bees. Their joint effort will concentrate on a network of small to mid-sized soybean farmers in Brazil. Assisting them in this venture are two key organizations: GeoApis, tasked with monitoring managed bee popu-lations and facilitating communication between farm-ers and beekeepers, and Wheatley Young Partners, entrusted with evaluating the feasibility of a nature-market initiative in Brazil. Mexico, after threatening to ban GMO corn importsBratney and DAQ Form Strategic Partnership for South and Central Americasince January 2021, postponed the ban originallyBratney, operating in the U.S. and Argentina, and set for March 31, 2024, until 2025 due to concernsGrupo DAQ, with locations in Argentina and Brazil, about its impact on agricultural production andhave joined forces to establish a strategic partnership food security. The postponement may continue untiland joint venture. This collaboration has led to the cre-ation of a new, jointly owned company in the U.S. The a replacement is found, adding to uncertainty.A U.S.purpose of this new venture is to facilitate the sale corn ban would reshape the seed industry, changingof Bratneys top-of-the-line processing, milling, and demand and supply dynamics. It could lead to apackaging equipment in Central and South America. decrease in demand for genetically modified cornAdditionally, the partnership will involve the sharing of engineering and design resources, as well as expertise seeds, prompting companies to prioritize non-GMon customer projects between the two companies. or alternative crop seeds. Additionally, the ban may spur research and development towards creatingConsortium Including Brazilians Sequences the new varieties compliant with regulations and marketReference Genome of Arabica CoffeeCoffee, one of the most traded commodities glob-preferences. ally, is primarily derived from Coffea arabica, the most widely consumed among approximately 130 species. While nearly every major commodity has had its refer-GDM Acquires KWS Corn and Sorghumence genome sequenced over the last decade, coffee Business in Strategic South Americanhas only recently been added to the list. The refer-Expansion ence genome is crucial for developing coffee varie-GDM, a global plant genetics company, announcedties better suited to climate change and resistant to its strategic acquisition of KWS corn and sorghumdiseases. In a groundbreaking effort, a consortium of business in South America. The acquisition includesscientists sequenced the reference genome of Arabica all of KWS South American corn breeding and salescoffee. activities, as well as corn and sorghum production sites in Brazil and Argentina, involving approximatelyA Good Fungus Among Us700 employees. GDM will continue and enhance theThe corn leafhopper, Dalbulus maidis, is a significant business KWS has already developed. KWS will retainproblem for farmers across the Americas, from the all vegetable, sugar beet and counter season breed- southern United States to northern Argentina. In ing programs of the European corn and sugar beetBrazil, it exclusively targets corn plants, and its survival portfolio in Brazil, Chile and Peru. GDM representa- mechanisms without these hosts are not well under-tives emphasized that transaction will not affect thestood. The insect damages corn by sucking sap from European corn business. the phloem, the vascular tissue responsible for trans-porting sugars and other metabolic products from the 36/ SEEDWORLD.COMLATAM'