Key Takeaways
- Elicit Plant and Mosaic Biosciences signed a joint development agreement on July 21, 2026, to build a new solution for canola growers in North America.
- The program centers on Elicit Plant’s EliTerra technology platform, built to help crops manage water stress and preserve yield.
- Canadian farmers planted a record 23.4 million acres of canola in 2026, underscoring the crop’s importance to the region’s agriculture.
- The two companies will run field evaluations across major canola-growing areas in the US and Canada, including North Dakota.
- Elicit Plant says its technology can cut crop water consumption by up to 20%, based on its work in Europe, Brazil, the US, and Ukraine.
Elicit Plant and Mosaic Biosciences Sign Canola Agreement
Elicit Plant and Mosaic Biosciences announced a joint development agreement on July 21, 2026, to identify and build a new solution for canola, also known as oilseed rape, across North America. The deal combines Elicit Plant’s EliTerra technology with Mosaic Biosciences‘ focus on crop resilience, with the goal of helping canola growers hold onto yield potential when water is scarce.
Canola remains a major field crop for Canadian agriculture, with growers planting a record 23.4 million acres in 2026. US production is smaller but still matters in northern growing regions such as North Dakota. In both countries, changing weather patterns and periods of water stress have added pressure on growers to protect output.
Why Water Stress Is a Growing Concern for Canola
Jeff Wheeler, vice president of biosciences at The Mosaic Company, said the new program reflects a broader push to pair outside expertise with in-house research.
“Addressing water stress is a key focus area for Mosaic Biosciences. We believe that partnerships play an essential role in accelerating innovation and bringing new biological solutions to growers. This program combines complementary expertise to advance solutions that can help canola producers maintain productivity under increasingly challenging growing conditions,” said Jeff Wheeler, vice president, biosciences at The Mosaic Company.
Elicit Plant’s Role in the Partnership
Elicit Plant, described as an AgTech company, built its EliTerra technology on phytosterols, plant-derived molecules the company says strengthen crops’ natural resistance to stress. Eran Kosover, chief commercial officer at Elicit Plant, framed the partnership around the specific risks facing Canadian canola growers.
“Canola is a strategic crop for Canadian agriculture and is particularly exposed to climate-related risks. Through EliTerra® innovative technology, which helps plants optimize their water use efficiency, we aim to develop a solution that can help growers preserve yield potential when water availability becomes a limiting factor,” said Eran Kosover, chief commercial officer at Elicit Plant.
Next Steps: Field Testing Across North America
As part of the agreement, Elicit Plant and Mosaic Biosciences plan to run an agronomic evaluation program across key canola-growing regions in North America. The companies say the goal is a canola solution that has been tested in the field, is practical for growers to adopt, and helps protect yield when water availability drops. Elicit Plant already sells solutions for corn, soybean, sunflower, and wheat, and reports it has doubled its revenue over the past two years across its commercial markets.
