b'Market Launch and Global ImpactBASFs Nemasphere is slated for commercial release in 2028, pending regulatory approval. The trait promises to be versa-tile, allowing breeders to integrate it into various high-yielding varieties without compromising agronomic performance. Additionally, Nemasphere will be stacked with the Enlist E3 herbicide tolerance trait, giving farmers a multifaceted tool to optimize soybean productivity.The potential for global impact is substantial. SCN is not just United States issue; its the number one yield reducer for soy-beans worldwide. In Latin America, they have a lot of issues with soybean cyst nematode, too, McCarville says. This provides a way for them to get to some sustainable management for their key nematode issues in South America. By tackling SCN head-on, McCarville says Nemasphere offers a valuable blueprint for nematode control across other crops.Innovation and PerseveranceFor both Daum and McCarville, the road to Nemasphere has been a long but rewarding journey. Its really fulfilling to know that what Ive been working on is actually going to make a difference, Daum says. Working in the lab, she could only hope for such an outcome. Now, with Nemasphere poised for market launch, she knows that the project will have a tangible impact. Most people in research hope their work will have an impact, but to see it progressing to this point is huge, she says.Bryan Perry, BASF U.S. Head of Seeds and Traits, under-scores the companys farmer-first approach, which has been central to Nemaspheres development. When someone asks me, whos your customer? Ill always answer that my ultimate customer is the farmer, he says. Perrys perspective was shaped by his father-in-law, a dairy farmer and Cooperative Extension agent. He told me something I always have to keep in mind is helping our farmers make more money. He said if were helping them do that, were doing the right thing. This philosophy is woven throughout BASFs efforts, especially when it comes to innovation.Advice for Innovators As they look toward Nemaspheres launch, both Daum and McCarville offer advice for those in the thick of long-term projects. Innovation is undefeated, McCarville says, referring to a favorite quote. New solutions for old problems are always going to be a market-winning strategy. He emphasizes the importance of resilience, acknowledging that innovation can be slow and sometimes arduous. Comparison of the plants without (left) and with the At the end of the day, the customer desires those innovative Nemasphere trait.PHOTO: BASF solutions, and thats what were really working towards, he adds.12/ SEEDWORLD.COMDECEMBER 2024'