b'CRAIG NELSON Upshift for USVICE PRESIDENT, EUROFINS BIODIAGNOSTICSCraigNelson@eurofinsUS.com Market Opportunityeurofinsus.com/biodiagnostics/ITS NO SECRETthat mega-merger consolidation has straightened and Trait Purity Testing anarrowed the seed-to-harvest speedway. The largest-tier companies repre-sent the bulk of seed genetics and encroach ownership of half the ag input market. The only speed bumps in the race to own every acre are the inde-Key Element of yourpendent seed companies, retailers and growers who want choice based on economic and agronomic conditions, who need differentiation to remain QA Testing Program viable and who prefer ownership over their destiny. Nufarm is one example of a business thats morphing in the North American market to fill customer needs and gaps left by heavy consolidation. AN ACCURATE ANDtimely trait purity analysisWe believe there are three fundamentals to transformation in the sub-large-is a mandatory piece of any quality assurance test- tier landscape that companies can leverage to upshift their success.ing program for seed lots containing a biotech trait. #3 - Sustainability. Can distribution count on you to deliver what youll This testing assures both the producer and the traitsay youll deliver? Nufarm has invested heavily to optimize the capability and developer that seed lots identified as containingtransparency of its North American supply chain through people, technology a specific trait do in-fact have that trait and willand infrastructure. Nufarm manufactures almost all products made for North provide value to the grower.America from three U.S. plants. It can also leverage its global footprint for an Typically, the trait developer will design a spe- added assurance. Regardless of your operations size, mapping your sustain-cific technical method that must be followed byability, the assurance that you can deliver, is fundamental.both their internal laboratory and any third party #2 - Flexibility. The largest industry players will likely be challenged when commercial laboratories to ensure that the specificit comes to navigating individualized channel partner needs. With portfolio trait is present in the seed lot. Upholding thesestrategies strongly weighted with tethered solutions and cross-licenses, the standards is imperative to the trait provider as thisability of frontrunning companies to step off the program path and satisfy an will ensure that seed lots marketed for a specificemerging or marginalized product need will be diminished. Companies that quality will truly provide value. can be operationally equipped, flexible, and willing to develop products that Both enzyme-linked immunosorbent assaymake market sense will be rewarded. (ELISA) and herbicide bioassay testing techniques #1 - Choice. Even with waves of divestiture, company consolidation has are used to confirm trait purity. ELISA testing isrestricted channel and grower choice, leading to research that signals a future a commonly used method within the industry toof higher prices due to less competition. The ability of other ag input compa-determine if a seed lot contains an insect-resistantnies to alter this reality and offer significant choice will be to key success in the trait. Individual seeds are prepared for testing by2020 ag marketplace and beyond. Nufarm is morphing to be extracting their plant material, either by growingan innovative development company and to maintain or seed crushing. An antibody coated ELISA platean increasingly broad selection of quality foundational specific to the protein of interest will elicit a colorproducts. This offers choice, value and differentia-change if the trait containing proteins are present.tion opportunities to retail distributors and a way for Positives and negatives are calculated to determinegrowers to access the road less traveled, the one if the intended trait is present to meet the providersthat when taken can make all the differencecriteria for a positive trait-containing seed lot.The herbicide bioassay is a trait purity test similar to a germination test with the exception that a specific herbicide is applied to the seed to create an environment in which the seed is exposed to the herbicide. A non-herbicide tolerant seed will exhibit physiological symptoms or phenotypes that indicate herbicide susceptibility.BRENDAN DECKA robust trait purity testing program will ensureNORTH AMERICAthat seed lots are accurately labeled and representGENERAL MANAGER, NUFARMthe true quality of the seed regarding its resistancebrendan.deck@nufarm.comto specific insect and herbicide environments.www.nufarm.comDECEMBER 2019SEEDWORLD.COM /49'