In a groundbreaking move, Syngenta Group, one of the world's largest agricultural technology companies, has announced that it will provide rights to selected genome-editing and breeding technologies for academic research globally. This initiative is part of Syngenta's commitment to fostering innovation and driving sustainability in the food and agriculture sector. The rights, which are accessible through the company's collaborative innovation platform Shoots by Syngenta, are expected to enable solutions to complex challenges and accelerate the development of more productive and resilient crops.
The intellectual property rights being made available are related to optimized CRISPR-Cas12a and gene-editing enabled breeding tools. CRISPR gene-editing technology allows for the creation of improved plants without the need for DNA from different species, making the process quicker and more efficient than conventional breeding methods or natural processes. Syngenta's scientists have engineered CRISPR Cas12a to enhance its efficiency and utility, significantly optimizing it as a tool for crop improvement.
Gusui Wu, Head of Global Seeds Research at Syngenta, emphasizes the potential of CRISPR technology to revolutionize plant breeding and accelerate the discovery and deployment of innovations that benefit farmers. By inviting universities and academic institutions from around the world to collaborate, Syngenta aims to drive innovation and improve the sustainability of agriculture.
Syngenta has a history of sharing technology with public and private entities, enabling straightforward access to its proprietary technologies for academic and non-profit research use. The company's vegetable licensing platform, for example, allows breeding companies and academic institutes to access and breed with Syngenta germplasm.
The Shoots by Syngenta global innovation collaboration platform, launched in 2023, aims to create partnerships that address complex challenges in food and agriculture. The platform brings together Syngenta's global network of more than 6,000 scientists with the external innovation ecosystem, comprising academics, research institutes, and other entities. The goal is to develop solutions that mitigate climate change, enhance biodiversity, and better serve both smallholder and large-scale farmers.
Stuart Harrison, Head of Global Seeds R&D Partnerships at Syngenta, believes that collaboration accelerates innovation. He states that this new initiative has tremendous potential to not only result in exciting technology innovations but also to drive critical crop solutions that will support farmers worldwide.
Adrian Percy, Executive Director of the North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative, expresses excitement about the collaboration with Syngenta. By accessing these innovative technologies, the North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative and North Carolina State University can more broadly accelerate their capabilities in genome editing, enabling the improvement of various crops to benefit the grower community.
Syngenta has established a simple, streamlined process for licensing the technologies, with additional information regarding the available technologies accessible via the online catalogue on the Shoots by Syngenta website.
