Key Takeaways
- BioLumic is expanding its Corn xTraits™ Licensing Program into South America through early-stage evaluations with GDM and a collaboration with Tropical Melhoramento & Genética (TMG).
- The expansion includes regional seed production and nursery engagement with Gro Alliance, supporting year-round trait development.
- Field evaluations are planned across major Brazilian grain-producing regions, including trials with Grupo Scheffer, one of the country’s largest producers.
- BioLumic expects Latin America–wide rollout over the next 12–15 months, with commercial launch timing driven by partner strategies.
- Testing of light-activated hybrids is scheduled for the 2026 Safra and Safrinha seasons, with future expansion planned into soybean and ryegrass.
BioLumic Begins South American Expansion of Corn xTraits™ Platform
BioLumic Targets Major Grain-Producing Regions
BioLumic, a biotechnology company developing heritable seed traits activated by light, announced new steps to expand its Corn xTraits™ Licensing Program into South America. The expansion builds on commercial progress in the United States and supports the company’s strategy to establish xTraits hubs across global grain-producing regions.
“To meet the global demand and reach of innovative seed partners and their customers, South American deployment is essential,” said Steve Sibulkin, CEO of BioLumic. “Our seed partners see an opportunity to drive higher performance in a fraction of the time and cost of alternative approaches.”
Partnerships With GDM, TMG, and Grupo Scheffer
BioLumic’s South American expansion includes:
- Early-stage evaluations with GDM, which is testing BioLumic’s light-activated trait technology within its own corn genetics.
- A collaboration with TMG, leveraging its breeding expertise to accelerate adaptation and field evaluation across top-producing Brazilian corn regions.
- Multi-location trials with Grupo Scheffer, a preferred TMG customer and one of Brazil’s largest agricultural producers. These trials will take place across Mato Grosso and other key grain geographies, providing a direct pathway to validation and adoption.
“We are enthusiastic about exploring BioLumic’s technology within our genetics as part of early-stage testing,” said Tomas Tresca, Global NGT Traits Business Partner at GDM.
“TMG is evaluating BioLumic’s light-activation technology with interest,” added Anderson Meda, Head of Research and Development – Biotechnology and Genetics at TMG. “The approach has the potential to complement our efforts to enhance stability and performance in corn hybrid development.”
Year-Round Seed Production and 2026–2027 Field Evaluations
BioLumic is working with Gro Alliance to support nursery operations in Chile, enabling year-round seed production, trait matching, and hybrid development for both hemispheres.
The company is currently evaluating inbred germplasm from its Brazilian partners, with:
- Field evaluations planned for 2026
- Hybrid seed production scheduled across both the Safra and Safrinha seasons
- Trials at partner-aligned test sites across major corn-growing regions
Data generated from 2026 into 2027 will support commercial launch timelines coordinated with seed partners.
Pathway to Broader Latin American Expansion
BioLumic expects its South American xTraits deployment to scale over the next 12–15 months, with further expansion planned into soybean and ryegrass across Latin America.
BioLumic
BioLumic focuses on plant trait development using light-based solutions to influence genetic expression. The company's xTraits™ technology activates biological mechanisms in seeds and seedlings to improve yield, vigor, nutrition, and overall plant health without chemicals or genetic modification.
With applications across over a dozen crops—including corn, soybeans, rice, and forage—BioLumic offers a platform that shortens trait development timelines by up to 90% while aiming to reduce environmental impact and support crop resilience.
