b'viability of preserved pollen to further expand breed-Seeds from Eight Genebanks Safeguarded ining opportunities, improve land utilization in seed October Deposit to the Seed Vault corn production and create a new revenue stream for Despite the pandemic, NordGen staff still regularly gopollen production. After preserving pollen for 365-to Svalbard to deposit seeds from the worlds gen- days, PowerPollen is the first to use cryogenically ebanks in order to safeguard the crop diversity crucialpreserved corn pollen across dozens of in-field female for our future food security. This time, 45 boxes withinbreds to produce strong seed quality and yield.15,000 seed samples from eight different genebanks were deposited into the Seed Vault for long-termCornell Tool Connects Farmers to Walmart safekeeping.Climate GoalsResearchers in the College of Agriculture and USDA Launches AskUSDA, Improves andLife Sciences (CALS) have developed an online Streamlines Customer Experience greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions accounting tool, The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)FAST-GHG, to help quantify these emissions in crop announced the official launch of the AskUSDAproduction. Walmart Inc. is using the tool as part of Contact Center program. The AskUSDA Contactits Project Gigaton initiative, aimed at working with Center will serve as the one front door for phone,suppliers to avoid 1 gigaton of GHG emissions from the chat, and web inquires, transforming how the publicglobal supply chain by 2030. In September, Walmart interacts with USDA and providing an enhancedmade the new tool available to its suppliers. experience for the public. Prior to the creation and implementation of AskUSDA, members of the publicBlockApps Launches Agribusiness Blockchain had to navigate dozens of phone numbers and hadNetwork TraceHarvest Following Success no chat function or online platform for self-service,with Bayercreating frustrations and inefficiencies. AskUSDA wasBlockApps announced the launch of the TraceHarvest created to make USDA more responsive to the publicNRGene andNetwork which is transforming the way agricultural by providing a single destination for phone, chat, andproducts are managed. The new blockchain-powered web inquiries.Philoseedbusiness network was developed in collaboration are workingwith Bayer, which served as a founding member and BUSINESS NEWS active user of the network for live, customer-facing Philoseed and NRGene Collaborate to Createto createoperations over the past two years in regions includ-Varieties Resistant to ToBRFV ing the United States and Brazil, with further plans to NRGene and Philoseed announced their collabora- a ToBRFVexpand globally. This platform will set new standards tion for DNA marker based Tomato Brown Rugoseresistantin sustainability, driving digital transformation and Fruit Virus (ToBRFV) trait integration using NRGenesfood system resiliency that will shape the future of the genomic technology. The identified tomato resistancetomatoagriculture industry.source for ToBRFVby Philoseed (patent filed) will bevariety.mapped using an ultra-density genetic map. A set ofWilbur-Ellis Opens New INTEGRA HeadquartersDNA markers covering the entire tomato genome willWilbur-Ellis Agribusiness is excited to open the new then be used to introduce the ToBRFV trait efficientlyheadquarters of its seed business, Integra seed. On into Philoseeds diverse tomato varieties while mini- November 16, 2020, Integra will start calling ONeill, mizing introgression of additional genetic componentsNebraska, home and is looking forward to new busi-from the TBRFV resistant tomato donor. NRGenesness opportunities and community engagement. The genomics, coupled with Philoseeds breeding quali- move to ONeill gives Integra an advantage as there ties, will accelerate the breeding process for ToBRFVwill be additional jobs created for the local market and resistance and the release of new commercial varietiesfor distribution of seed to customers.is expected during 2022. Meristem and ForeFront Ag Solutions PowerPollen Advances Cryogenetic PollenAnnounce AgreementPreservation for Corn Seed Production Meristem Crop Performance Group, LLC and PowerPollen announced results of an in-field study toForeFront Ag Solutions, LLC announced a new strate-pollinate seed crop corn plants using pollen pre- gic supply agreement to serve Indiana farmers. Under served for an entire year at ultra-low temperature.the new relationship, the Meristem Crop Performance Their success in forming fully seeded ears of corn withproduct line becomes a key component of ForeFronts cryogenic pollen thereby demonstrates the long-termnew crop input offering and ForeFront Ag Solutions 72/ SEEDWORLD.COMJANUARY 2021'