Key Takeaways
- BASF’s nematode resistant soybean (NRS) trait to be combined with Enlist E3® and Conkesta E3® soybean platforms in Brazil.
- NRS trait targets root lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus brachyurus) and soybean cyst nematodes, pests that threaten yields.
- Field trials over seven years have shown more than 90% control of root lesion nematodes.
- Enlist E3 soybeans offer tolerance to multiple herbicides; Conkesta E3 also provides Bt protection against caterpillar pests.
- Commercial launch in Brazil expected by the end of the decade or early next decade, pending regulatory approval.
First Biotech Trait for Nematode Control in Soybeans By BASF, Corteva & M.S. Technologies
BASF, Corteva Agriscience, and M.S. Technologies, L.L.C. have signed a trait licensing agreement to integrate BASF’s nematode resistant soybean (NRS) trait with the Enlist E3® and Conkesta E3® soybean platforms for Brazilian farmers. This marks the first biotechnology-based solution developed for managing root lesion and soybean cyst nematodes, both of which are challenging to control and can cause significant yield losses.
Adolfo Vitorio Ulbrich, Director Regional R&D Seeds at BASF Agricultural Solutions in Latin America, noted: “This novel trait has demonstrated more than 90% control of root lesion nematodes in more than 160 field trials over the past 7 years.”
BASF Trait Integration with Weed and Pest Control Technologies
Enlist E3 soybeans are tolerant to 2,4-D choline, glyphosate, and glufosinate herbicides, providing growers with multiple weed control options. Conkesta E3 soybeans combine the Enlist E3 traits with two Bt proteins (Cry1F and Cry1Ac) for caterpillar pest control—an option designed for Latin American farming conditions.
Christian Pflug, Licensing Director – Brazil & Paraguay at Corteva, said: “We’re pleased about the opportunity to combine our Enlist E3 and Conkesta E3 soybean technology with the nematode resistant soybean (NRS) trait from BASF to offer growers across Brazil a critical new tool to help protect against Pratylenchus brachyurus and soybean cyst nematode.”
Collaboration to Benefit South American Farmers
The transgenic soybean event for Enlist E3 and Conkesta E3 soybeans is jointly developed and owned by Corteva and M.S. Technologies.
Joe Merschman, President of M.S. Technologies, L.L.C., commented: “Pairing Enlist E3 and Conkesta E3 genetics from M.S. Technologies, L.L.C. with this new NRS trait developed by BASF represents a step change in value protection for soybean growers in South America.”
Commercial Timeline and Future Expansion
The companies expect that commercial varieties containing the NRS trait will be available in Brazil by the end of the decade or early next decade, pending regulatory approvals and completion of field testing. They also indicated that expansion to additional countries is possible.
Terms of the licensing agreement were not disclosed.
BASF Agricultural Solutions
BASF operates in the agricultural sector with a focus on innovation, sustainability, and collaboration across the value chain. The company supports farmers and agricultural communities by developing solutions that address key challenges such as climate change, resource efficiency, and the need for increased production on limited arable land.
Leveraging its resources, expertise, and long standing connections to farming, BASF works to provide products and services aimed at improving productivity and sustainability. Its agricultural initiatives are designed to support growers in producing food, feed, fuel, and fiber in an efficient and environmentally responsible manner.
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