Key Takeaways:
- Origin Agritech Ltd. (NASDAQ: SEED) signed a patent license agreement with Shandong Shunfeng Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (Shunfeng BioTech) for the Cas-SF01 gene editing tool.
- The collaboration gives Origin Agritech long-term access to fully IP-protected gene editing technologies for use in corn breeding and R&D.
- The licensed platform will accelerate the company’s “Smart Plant Architecture” breeding program to improve corn yield, density, and adaptability.
- Functional validation has shown that edited corn lines developed with Cas-SF01 enhance plant structure and field productivity.
- Origin has begun biosafety evaluations, aiming to complete approvals and commercialize new gene-edited varieties within the next two years.
Origin Agritech Expands Gene Editing Capabilities with Shunfeng BioTech Collaboration
Origin Agritech Ltd. (NASDAQ: SEED), a leading Chinese agricultural technology company, announced that it has entered into a patent license agreement with Shandong Shunfeng Biotechnology Co., Ltd. for access to the Cas-SF01 gene editing platform.
This agreement provides Origin Agritech with long-term rights to use Shunfeng BioTech’s proprietary gene editing technology in its breeding programs. The collaboration aims to accelerate innovation in corn genetics, supporting the development of high-density, high-yield, and climate-resilient hybrid varieties.
“The signing of this patent license agreement marks a significant step forward in Origin Agritech’s gene editing breeding strategy,” said Bill Deng, Vice President and Head of R&D at Origin Agritech. “By integrating world-class research resources with advanced biotechnological tools, we are building a modern breeding system with proprietary IP that contributes to China’s agricultural innovation and food security.”
Advancing Corn Breeding with Gene Editing Technology
The new partnership builds on Origin Agritech’s long-standing collaboration with China Agricultural University, through which researchers identified two regulatory genes—ZmRAVL1 and ZmDWF4—that control corn leaf angle. Findings from these studies have been published in Science and Nature.
Using Shunfeng BioTech’s Cas-SF01 platform, Origin’s researchers developed edited corn induction lines, including ZmRAVL1-KO1 and ZmDWF4-KO1, to improve plant architecture and increase field efficiency.
Origin Agritech’s “Smart Plant Architecture” Program
Functional validation confirmed that ZmRAVL1-KO1 and ZmDWF4-KO1 edits optimize leaf angles, creating a canopy structure with compact upper leaves and open lower leaves. This configuration improves light interception, airflow, and planting density, leading to higher yield potential.
“Enhancing corn yield through increased planting density has long been a global goal, but traditional breeding has made limited progress,” said Mr. Deng. “These edited lines allow precise and efficient improvement of elite germplasm, reducing the time and genetic drag associated with conventional breeding.”
The company plans to integrate these genetic advancements into its Hi-3 induction line gene editing technology, enabling faster and more efficient variety upgrades.
Path to Commercialization and Regulatory Progress
Origin Agritech has initiated biosafety assessments for its gene-edited induction lines and is preparing to apply the Cas-SF01 platform across additional breeding programs. The collaboration also supports regulatory alignment, simplifying the approval process for future edited varieties developed using the Hi-3 one-step gene-editing method.
The company expects to obtain final biosafety certification within one to two years, pending completion of regulatory procedures and testing.
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