Corn Trait Pipeline: A Field of Dreams

Bayer CropScience

Bayer CropScience is assessing numerous areas of trait technology development, including increased yield, improved quality, nitrogen utilization, better stress tolerance, broadened spectrum of herbicide-tolerance and improved pest resistance.

For the corn market, insect control will be a primary focus. “Our MiDAS Gene Resources library allows us to use microbial genomics technology to isolate novel insect control genes from a number of different strains,” says Nick Duck, head of corn and soybean research, Bayer CropScience.“It’s the largest collection of insect-control genes (insect and nematode) of any major trait provider, with more than 330 genes isolated for novel insect paths across crops, including corn.”

The company’s pipeline includes new multiple modes of action for all major corn pests, as well as several new rootworm leads.