b'The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture haspotential. Specifically, the trait utilizes a Cry14 protein that, when awarded Sarah Strauss, a UF/IFAS associate professor of soil,ingested by nematodes, disrupts nutrient uptake in their intes-water, and ecosystem sciences, a $700,000 federal grant totines, ultimately causing their death. study ways to increase soil productivity. Strauss and her col-leagues will study tomatoes, abundant in Southwest Florida,Bayer and Solynta have reached an agreement to collaborate hoping their results will benefit high-intensity crop farmerson the commercialization and distribution of true potato seeds throughout the Southeast. in Kenyan and Indian markets. This partnership marks the entry of Bayer into the 20 million hectares global potato market, and Researchers from China Agricultural University and Originits first collaboration with Solynta. This will allow growers to Agritech optimized maizes leaf angles at different canopyplant potatoes from true seeds rather than the traditional plant-layers to boost yield through gene editing. According to Origining of tubers.Agritech, the method is the worlds first efficient genetic trans-formation system for maize induction line Hi3. The system isSyngenta Seeds announced a collaboration with AI company, designed for rapid editing of maize lines. This method also ena- InstaDeep, to bring Syngentas proprietary trait research and bles accurate modifications in maize lines within one year, savingdevelopment capabilities together with InstaDeeps Large three to four years in maize breeding. Language Model platform to accelerate the development of solution-providing crop traits for farmers. InstaDeep has devel-Engineers at the University of WisconsinMadisonoped a state-of-the-art language model, AgroNT1, trained on (UW-Madison) have created low-cost sensors that allow fortrillions of nucleotides from agriculturally relevant crop species, real-time, continuous monitoring of nitrate in soil types preva- to interpret the complex language of the genetic code. lent in Wisconsin. These innovative printed electrochemical sensors can help growers make better nutrient managementMaizex Seeds announced its exclusive forage and cereal varie-decisions and see economic benefits.ties will now be marketed under the Maizex brand, following a similar rebranding of its soybeans line last year. The switch Lavie Bio Ltd. announced the commercial expansion of its bio- to one brand means farmers can now buy all corn, soybean, inoculant product, Yalos, to winter wheat, following successfulforage, and cereal seed under the Maizex label.trials. This expansion effectively doubles the potential market for Yalos compared to markets in which Lavie Bio alreadyCanterra Seeds Holdings announced that United Farmers of operates. Winter wheat growers across the U.S. will have accessAlberta Co-operative Limited has acquired a 17% stake in to Yalos for the upcoming 2024-2025 season.Canterra Seeds from Ceres Global Ag Corp. Canterra Seeds is also owned by Limagrain, 175 seed growers, ag retailers and BASF recently announced a new SCN trait theyve namedprivate investors. The company offers one of the broadest field Nemasphere. The company describes the nematode resist- seed portfolios in Western Canada including canola, cereals, ance trait as the first and only biotechnology trait for SCN. Thepulses and specialty crops. trait employs a novel mode of action while maintaining yield SEPTEMBER 2024SEEDWORLD.COM /45'