FEBRUARY 2018 SEEDWORLD.COM / 83 Expertise in viruses and high security containment brought Rothamsted Research into a multinational team that has just won a major battle in the war against a genetically versatile fungal pathogen with a long record of devastation of wheat production globally. The team, from Australia, the US and the UK, identified a gene in the fungus that triggers resistance in the host plant and have begun to understand how the fungus mutates to neutralise this avirulence gene to overcome the resistance pathway. BUSINESS NEWS Chinese farmers will have access to more corn genetic technology this year. Stine Seed Company has long kept relations with China, and recently sealed their relationship through a collaborative agreement with Bejing W. Seed. China is leaps and bounds behind U.S. farmers when it comes to cultivating corn and soybeans—even though soybeans originated from the country. Native Traits Corporation announced that it has the capability to change the way hybrid corn is developed, produced, and marketed. EaSY™ is a naturally-occurring, non-GMO trait that was identified by using NT RECOVERY™, a proprietary trait identification technology. The EaSY (Enhanced Seed Yield) natural genetic trait is noted for its ability to increase inbred yield and reduce the cost of seed production. Beck’s is pleased to announce an on-going expansion project for their processing and distribution facility in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. The expansion will begin with a new warehouse and dock space that is projected to be complete in November 2018. Future plans also include a new structure for bulk storage and installation of a new color sorter technology. Mycogen Seeds announced it will be closing all Molokai operations by next spring, as DowDupont, Mycogen’s parent company, is moving toward consolidating operations in Hawaii. DowDuPont employs about 280 employees statewide, and operates on 7,300 acres on Molokai, Kauai and Oahu combined. DowDuPont spokeswoman Laurie Yoshida said the company does not disclose personnel numbers by site. PEOPLE NEWS KeyGene, a molecular genetics company specializing in agricultural biotechnology, announced that Walter Nelson has been appointed Chief Executive Officer for KeyGene USA. Nelson will oversee all of KeyGene’s operations in the U.S., Canada and Latin America. Cibus, a leading trait development and plant breeding company, has appointed David Sippell as Vice President, and General Manager, Canada. He will manage Canadian operations from Cibus’ new office in Winnipeg.