Key Takeaways
- PlantArcBio and Helix Sementes e Biotecnologia announced a licensing collaboration focused on corn yield and drought resilience.
- Helix licensed PlantArcBio’s proprietary genes associated with yield improvement and drought tolerance.
- The traits were discovered using PlantArcBio’s patented DIP™ platform.
- The collaboration targets key South American markets, including Brazil and Argentina.
- The goal is to integrate the genes into elite corn germplasm and advance commercial hybrid development.
PlantArcBio and Helix Sementes Announce Licensing Collaboration
PlantArcBio, an agricultural biotechnology company specializing in precision biology, has entered into a licensing agreement with Helix Sementes e Biotecnologia, a corn and sorghum seed company within the Agroceres Group. The collaboration aims to develop and commercialize new corn traits designed to increase yield and enhance drought resilience in South America.
Under the agreement, Helix has licensed proprietary genes from PlantArcBio that are associated with yield improvement and drought tolerance. The focus will be on integrating these genes into Helix’s elite corn germplasm and advancing product development for major corn-producing countries such as Brazil and Argentina.
PlantArcBio's DIP™ Platform-Discovered Genes Target Yield and Drought Tolerance
The licensed genes were identified using PlantArcBio’s patented DIP™ platform, which enables high-throughput discovery of genes with measurable agronomic impact. According to the companies, the genes were introduced into corn in collaboration with Rallis India, a Tata enterprise.
The resulting corn lines demonstrated significant and consistent yield improvements under both irrigated and drought-stress conditions. The new partnership with Helix is intended to move this validated technology into elite commercial germplasm tailored to South American growing conditions.
“We are pleased to partner with Helix, a strong regional player with deep expertise in corn breeding and commercialization,” said Dror Shalitin, CEO of PlantArcBio. “By combining our validated genetic technology with Helix’s elite commercial lines, this collaboration has the potential to deliver high-performing, climate-resilient corn hybrids that can make a real difference for growers across key South American countries.”
Focus on Climate Resilience in Key Corn Markets
Brazil and Argentina are among the largest corn-producing countries globally, with Brazil’s second annual harvest particularly exposed to climate variability.
“A drought-resilient corn would be a major breakthrough for Brazilian growers, especially considering the climate conditions of our second yearly harvest,” said Urbano Ribeiral Jr., CFO of Agroceres Group. “Integrating PlantArcBio’s genes into our elite germplasm supports the development of competitive commercial corn hybrids for both grain and silage.”
The collaboration aims to accelerate the development of commercial hybrids capable of addressing key agronomic challenges, including water stress, while maintaining yield performance. Both companies indicated that the partnership leverages complementary expertise in gene discovery, breeding, and commercialization to advance next-generation corn traits for the region.
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