Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 8476 / SEEDWORLD.COM OCTOBER 2016 Researchers at Murdoch University have made a major breakthrough in improving the quality and profitability of Australia’s $6 bil- lion wheat crops. The team has increased the protein content of wheat to more than 14 percent in a new high-yielding variety. Researchers at DuPont Pioneer uncovered a non-Bt protein that could provide an alternative method in helping farmers control rootworm in North America and Europe. “This research represents a breakthrough for addressing a major challenge in agriculture,” says Neal Gutterson, DuPont Pioneer vice president, Research & Development. BUSINESS NEWS The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States cleared the proposed acquisition of Syngenta by China’s National Chemical Corporation, more commonly known as ChemChina. According to reports, it’s increas- ingly likely that the largest foreign acquisition by a Chinese company will go through. Syngenta is confi- dent that the deal will close by the end of the year. Cotton Seed Distributors (CSD) announces a $41 million rede- velopment of it’s “Shenstone” cotton seed processing plant and laboratory in New South Whales, Australia. Mycogen Seeds is changing how it prices seed. Starting in the 2016-17 season, it will price seed based on the value it delivers. Value has many components: relative yield, traits, competitive prices, com- modity prices and specific needs by geography. To develop the new value-based approach, Mycogen Seeds worked with third-party and university experts to review millions of data points across multiple years, distilling it down to a granular level. Abbott & Cobb, Inc. has com- pleted a long-term agreement to license SuperSeedWare to Syngenta Seeds for world- wide use in sweet corn varie- ties. SuperSeedWare represents the first privately owned, 100 per- cent natural gene-type in sweet corn breeding. Syngenta will begin to introgress SuperSeedWare technology into its proprietary sweet corn genetics. The goals are to deliver enhanced seed qual- ity, germination and vigor, while maintaining the desirable benefits of conventional supersweet sh2 gene types. AgReliant Genetics finalized the purchase of a soybean condition- ing facility located in Marcus, Iowa, previously operated by Sand Seed Service. This location will sup- port AgReliant Genetics’ industry growth and optimize its efficien- cies to meet the soybean needs of its customers. Agrium and Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan have agreed to combine in a merger of equals to create a “world-class integrated global supplier of crop inputs,” according to the companies. Under the agreement, which the boards of directors of both companies unani- mously approved, a new parent company will be formed to own both companies. PEOPLE NEWS The International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) announced that Beni Kaufman is leaving the association “to follow other career options.” After serving as secretary general for three years, Kaufman’s last day was Sept. 30. Kaufman has more than 17 years of experience in developing and managing GMO and genetic purity testing laboratories in the private seed sector. He is also an expe- rienced scientist in the area of molecular genetics analysis and related technologies. S&W Seed Company promotes Dan Gardner to the newly created position of chief marketing and technology officer. Gardner joined S&W in 2012 and most recently served as vice president of breed- ing and genetics. Prior to S&W, Gardner was in various leadership positions in breeding and interna- tional sales at Dairyland Seed Co., a Dow AgroSciences subsidiary, where he served for 18 years. Federal Hybrids names Brian Bormann as its new plant man- ager. Bormann will be responsi- ble for managing both Federal Hybrids warehouses in West Bend and Algona, Iowa. He will also be in charge of the logistics of seed shipments. Ohlde Seed Farms, a family company based in Palmer, Kansas, names Kurtis Voelker as plant manager. Voelker is knowledge- able in all aspects of manufactur- ing and production. A native of Kansas, he earned an associate’s degree in electronic engineering technology from North Central Kansas Technical College, as well as a bachelor’s in organiza- tional leadership studies with a minor in business from Rockhurst University. BioConsortia, developer of micro- bial solutions for natural plant trait enhancement and crop yield improvement, boosts its research and development expertise with the addition of three world-class experts to its scientific advisory board: Stephen Long, Gary Andersen, and Allen Rodrigo. All three are leaders in their respec- tive fields of research and each brings exceptional experience and knowledge applicable to dif- ferent aspects of BioConsortia’s Advanced Microbial Selection process. At its annual awards banquet in Janesville, Wisconsin, All-America Selections recognized Jim Nau