b'after participants saw an apple with a GM label, thediverse group of leaders, the organization will provide demand for the unlabeled apple jumped to 77.7%. Ifworld-class educational and market development a consumer was presented first with an apple labeledresources, research, and networking opportunities and non-genetically modified, the shoppers preferencewill unify the voice of farmers to actively engage in for it was 67.2%statistically even with their initialcritically important advocacy efforts.preference for an unlabeled apple. Indigo Agriculture, a company dedicated to harnessing BulKanna bulk hemp supplier is announcing the launchnature to help farmers sustainably feed the planet, of several new seed strains, adding to their catalogannounces the closing of its most recent financing of premium, feminized, non-GMO carefully sourcedround. The $200M round included new investor seed supply. Leading the new launch is the high CBDFedEx, and new lender Pacific Western Bank as well strain Spectrum. The powerful combination of the Z7as existing investors, bringing Indigos total capital strain combined with the uplifting hybrid Cannatonicraised to approximately $850M. Indigo will leverage has resulted in the creation of one of the highest CBDthis new financing to support its mission of enhancing strains in their collection.grower profitability, environmental sustainability, and consumer health.Biosecurity New Zealand has suspended fresh melon imports from Queensland after routineSolynta and the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal testing detected cucumber green mottle mosaicResources Development Board (RAB) announced an virus (CGMMV) on a consignment of watermelonsexpansion in their collaboration. Through collaboration from Australia. Biosecurity NZs Peter Thomson saidthe parties hope to bring the combination of true CGMMV, if introduced to NZ, could have a seriouspotato seeds and hybrids to local farmers. True potato impact on local production of cucurbit crops.seed allows for the replacement of bulky seed tubers with clean, easy to transport and store seed. Instead of BUSINESS NEWS using 2,500 kilos of perishable potato-tubers farmers Illumina, Inc. and Pacific Biosciences of California,will be able to use only 25 grams of true potato seed to Inc. announced that they have mutually agreedplant the same area. to terminate their merger agreement, previously announced on November 1, 2018, under which IlluminaGenective, a joint venture between Limagrain and would acquire Pacific Biosciences at a fully dilutedKWS, dedicated to the development of transgenic enterprise value of approximately $1.2 billion in an all- traits, and AgBiome, a leader in the discovery and cash transaction. development of new technology from microbes, announced a strategic partnership to accelerate Stokes Seeds has announced the acquisition ofcommercialization of coleopteran and lepidopteran the Siegers Seed Company business of Holland,resistant transgenic traits with unique modes of action. MI, effective December 19, 2019. Stokes Seeds hasThe partnership is intended to establish a new leader retained the employees of Siegers Seed Companyin insect traits, a market with over $5 billion in annual and is continuing operations from the Michigan,opportunities. Georgia and Florida locations with the newly combined organizations doing business under the Stokes SeedsBenson Hill announced the launch of Benson Hill brand. The ongoing 2019-2020 sales season will be aSeeds, a business focused on delivering superior seeds transition year with primary focus on customer service.to meet the evolving needs of the growing human Siegers Seed Company customers can expect thefood and animal feed markets, including the eMerge same level of service, provided by the same staff, fromGenetics portfolio of non-GMO soybean varieties.the same facilities.POET founder and CEO Jeff Broin announced a $2 SynTech Research and Acceres are in advancedmillion gift for precision agriculture at South Dakota discussions to merge their businesses to form a world- State University. POET and SDSU have a strong history leading global Agricultural R&D Contract Researchof collaboration on innovative research projects and Organisation. The combined organization will betraining the next generation to use agriculture to solve able to offer a complete package of services (Field,the worlds most pressing issues, like climate change. Laboratory and Regulatory). POET is proud to partner with SDSU on this exciting venture.The U.S. Hemp Growers Association (USHGA), the only national farmer-directed hemp trade association, wasPEOPLE NEWSannounced Dec. 19, 2019in Indianapolis. Founded by aAfter a career spanning 26 years at Syngenta 74/ SEEDWORLD.COMFEBRUARY 2020'