b'The ryegrass came back with better growth, more yield,If youre a processor, you want more oil. If youre in animal better root architecture. We were completely blown away, Chennutrition, you want more protein, Chen says. With PhotoSeed, says. We hadnt set out to change photosynthesis. But by seren- its a better bean for everyone.dipity, we had invented PhotoSeed. Corn follows a similar logic. ZeaKals PhotoSeed-enhanced From that napkin sketch, Chen, co-founder Nick Roberts,corn shows up to 23% more oil content. and a trans-Pacific network of plant scientists built a platformThe increased oil across crops opens new doors for renew-trait technology with global implications. In 2013, they officiallyable energy markets, particularly sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). founded ZeaKal to scale it across major row cropsbeginningIndependent analysis suggests PhotoSeed could reduce SAFs in the United States. carbon intensity for soybean oil by 4.6 grams CO e/MJa 2potential boost of one billion gallons of U.S. SAF production From Trait to Transformation annually, all without expanding farmland.In soybeans, PhotoSeed tackles a major quality crisis. Over theAmericas combined 170 million acres each of corn and past several decades, as breeders pushed for yield, proteinsoybeans can be the foundation of decarbonization, Chen says. levels have dropped. Agriculture isnt just food. Its fuel. Its fiber. Its the platform for a Weve kind of ignored the nutritional aspects of soy, Chenbio-based economy.says. We forgot why the crop is being grown in the first place.PhotoSeed helps restore those protein levels while increasingReinventing the Supply Chainoil production by up to 15%without compromising field yield.PhotoSeed is only one part of ZeaKals vision. The other is its Thats not just a win for growers. Its a win for every link in theNewType model for agriculture, a framework that seeks to supply chain. rebuild supply chains around shared value, not just volume.JUNE 2025SEEDWORLD.COM /13'