Key Takeaways
- PowerPollen has been awarded U.S. Patent 12,245,587 for its process using solid particulates to protect pollen viability during storage.
- The patented technology enables extended storage and targeted application of pollen in corn, wheat, rice, and other major crops.
- The innovation addresses challenges in pollen clumping and viability loss, providing benefits for yield, purity, and seed production efficiency.
- PowerPollen has built a significant intellectual property portfolio since its founding in 2015, supporting global seed companies and farmers.
- The technology reinforces the company’s role in advancing pollination methods for modern agriculture.
PowerPollen earns patent for novel pollen storage solution
PowerPollen, a provider of pollination-focused agtech solutions, announced it has received U.S. Patent 12,245,587 for its innovative method of blending solid particulates with fresh pollen to protect viability during storage. The process helps address one of the key challenges in storing pollen: the tendency for stored grains to clump and lose viability.
Jason Cope, Chief Intellectual Property Officer at PowerPollen, explained, “Our discoveries changed the previously held notion that row crop pollen was not capable of being stored for any duration. The ripple effect can clearly be seen by the consistent yield improvements in fields that PowerPollen has treated with stored pollen.”
Enabling reliable and scalable crop pollination
Since its founding in 2015, PowerPollen has developed solutions to collect, preserve, and apply pollen at commercial scale. The technology supports production of corn, rice, wheat, and other important crops without full reliance on natural pollen shedding. This advancement offers improved control over pollination timing and enhances yield reliability.
Field application allows growers to directly apply pollen as needed, improving seed purity and reducing the impact of unfavorable weather or labor shortages.
Addressing challenges in pollen storage and application
The company’s patented process helps solve the problem of pollen clumping during storage, which occurs when dead pollen cells leak contents and affect surrounding grains. PowerPollen‘s approach involves adding solid particulates that prevent live pollen grains from contacting leaked materials, maintaining viability and performance.
| Pollination Process Improvement | Impact |
|---|---|
| Solid particulates blended with pollen | Prevents clumping and viability loss |
| Targeted pollen application | Improves seed purity and yield consistency |
| Extended pollen viability | Enables flexible pollination scheduling |
PowerPollen builds on leadership in pollination technology
With this patent, PowerPollen expands its intellectual property portfolio, which already includes patents related to pollination, crop application, and production processes. The company’s approach is aimed at increasing productivity, profitability, and sustainability in agriculture.
“Seed crop producers today use innovative breeding techniques yet risk it all with pollination methods that haven’t changed for generations,” said Cope. “With this patent claim, we continue to execute our IP strategy and advance pollination-enabling technologies.”
Looking ahead: Pollination as a driver of yield and quality
PowerPollen‘s technology is designed to offer seed producers greater control over pollination, enhancing yield potential, seed purity, and profitability. By applying desired pollen in targeted ways, the technology supports the broader objective of producing higher-yield, high-quality seeds in a cost-effective manner.
The company plans to continue scaling its solutions to support seed companies and growers globally as pollination efficiency remains central to crop performance.
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