Key Takeaways
- ToolGen, a gene-editing company, and PlantArcBio, an ag-biotech firm, announce a strategic collaboration to develop herbicide-tolerant soybeans.
- The partnership leverages ToolGen’s CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology and PlantArcBio’s DIPPER™ platform for gene discovery and optimization.
- The technology will confer tolerance to two herbicide groups, improving weed management and supporting sustainable farming.
- The project is backed by the Korea-Israel Industrial R&D Foundation (KORIL-RDF) with a $2.16 million budget over two years.
- The partnership aims to expand gene-editing applications to additional crops and traits in the future.
Collaboration to Address Key Agricultural Challenges
ToolGen (Profile) and PlantArcBio (Profile) have joined forces to develop a gene-edited soybean with enhanced herbicide tolerance. This collaboration targets the global $10 billion soybean seed market, focusing on sustainable farming practices and increasing crop productivity.
Soybeans, a vital source of protein for human consumption and livestock feed, face challenges from resistant and hard-to-control weeds. The partnership’s innovative solution combines tolerance to two herbicide groups, offering farmers flexibility and efficiency in weed management.
Leveraging Advanced Technologies
The partnership brings together the strengths of both companies:
- ToolGen’s CRISPR-Cas9 Technology: A leading gene-editing platform with proven expertise in developing gene-edited crops.
- PlantArcBio’s DIPPER™ Platform: A proprietary system for high-throughput gene discovery and optimization, enhancing native crop traits.
This integration aims to provide a non-GMO solution to improve soybean yields while reducing the environmental footprint of agriculture.
Leadership Perspectives
Byong Hwa Lee, CEO of ToolGen: “We are delighted to collaborate with PlantArcBio, combining ToolGen’s cutting-edge gene-editing technology with PlantArcBio’s high-throughput DIPPER™ platform to enhance native crop traits. Our gene-edited herbicide-tolerant soybeans will offer farmers a non-GMO effective weed management solution, leading to higher productivity and enhanced food security.”
Dror Shalitin, CEO of PlantArcBio: “This partnership demonstrates the disruptive potential of PlantArcBio’s DIPPER™ platform in optimizing gene editing processes and enhancing native traits in crops. Collaborating with ToolGen as a long-term strategic partner enables us to deliver impactful agricultural solutions. We look forward to applying this collaboration model to additional crops and traits in the near future.”
Supported by Korea-Israel Industrial R&D Foundation
The project is supported by the Korea-Israel Industrial R&D Foundation (KORIL-RDF), which fosters technological innovation between Korean and Israeli companies. The $2.16 million budget for the project highlights its significance and potential global impact.
Future Prospects
ToolGen and PlantArcBio envision expanding their partnership to apply gene-editing technologies to other crops and traits, continuing their shared mission to address global agricultural challenges through innovative and sustainable solutions.
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