January 10, 2012
Monsanto's research engine hits highest multiple platform growth
In its annual pipeline update, Monsanto has emphasised on the diverse group of projects across research and development (R&D) platforms aimed at making agriculture more productive, profitable and more sustainable for farmers that had reached record progress.
Using a combination of the latest breeding, biotechnology, and agronomic tools and solutions, Monsanto remains committed to developing and delivering products that can create the next wave of yield opportunity for farmers.
"We're excited about the record progress we've made this year across all of our R&D platforms, as the projects in our pipeline today will help us provide an even stronger toolkit of solutions to meet the needs of farmers in the future," said Robb Fraley, Monsanto chief technology officer. "Through the convergence of innovations in our breeding, biotechnology and agronomic solutions platforms, we're focused on providing farmers the total package that can maximise their yields sustainably."
Monsanto draws from a collection of germplasm that is unparalleled in the industry. Increasingly, the company is using tools like molecular markers to more efficiently and effectively mine the diversity in this genetic library to develop elite seeds faster than ever before. In addition to annual germplasm improvements, three targeted breeding traits advanced phases this year, Phytophthora Resistant Peppers, Downy Mildew-Resistant Cucumbers and Beneforte® Broccoli.
The company also highlighted a number of projects in both its agronomic traits pipeline and its yield and stress collaboration with BASF Plant Science. Yield and stress projects advancing phases this year are Drought-Tolerant Cotton and Higher-Yielding Corn. Six advancements designed to provide improved pest and weed management solutions were announced in the agronomic traits pipeline. Highlights include Corn Rootworm III and Second-Generation Insect-Protected Genuity® Roundup Ready 2 Yield® soy, which would both offer multiple modes of action for enhanced insect control and durability. Monsanto's Cotton Lygus Control project, the first to target piercing-sucking insects in cotton, had also advanced phases.
Monsanto spotlighted three advancements in its agronomic solutions platform, including a new premix formulation of Roundup® and low volatility dicamba that would provide farmers with an additional tool for weed management and a novel nematicide chemistry designed to improve plant health. The company's Integrated Farming Systems(SM) I project, which would tie hybrid recommendations to variable-rate planting to help drive yields further, advanced to the final phase before commercialisation.
