Starke Ayres, Africa’s leading independent vegetable seed company, has partnered with Computomics, a global leader in AI-driven bioinformatics, to advance vegetable breeding through cutting-edge machine learning technologies.
The collaboration will integrate Starke Ayres’ expertise in breeding high-performance vegetable crops with Computomics’ Climate-Smart Breeding technology. By utilizing predictive analytics on large-scale genomic and environmental data, the partnership aims to enhance crop selection, improve breeding efficiency, and deliver sustainable outcomes.
“Our collaboration with Starke Ayres marks an important step in leveraging AI technology to enhance breeding processes for key crops,” said Dr. Sebastian J. Schultheiss, Managing Director of Computomics. “By integrating machine learning and data-driven insights into Starke Ayres’ breeding programs, we aim to unlock new opportunities for genetic gain and deliver high-performing vegetable varieties tailored to specific regions and climate conditions.”
The partnership will enable Starke Ayres to use predictive tools that analyze complex Genotype by Environment by Management (GxExM) interactions. These insights will support breeders in making more informed decisions and accelerating the development of climate-resilient vegetable varieties.
“Our mission is to continuously improve the quality of crops and ensure they thrive in different environments,” said Glendon Ascough, Research Director at Starke Ayres. “Collaborating with Computomics allows us to harness AI technology to gain deeper insights into plant genetics and new perspectives on environmental interactions, ultimately helping us to breed better crops for a growing world.”
By merging advanced bioinformatics with Starke Ayres’ breeding expertise, the collaboration underscores both companies’ commitment to sustainable agriculture and innovation in vegetable breeding. The partnership is set to deliver impactful solutions that address the challenges of global agriculture and support the development of future-ready crops.
