“Our second-generation drought event is due out two seasons later, and is geared more to the central Corn Belt with normal moisture. That event will feature yield insurance traits, for the one-in-five or 10-year drought in Illinois or Iowa, for example. It's more about yield risk protection,” Jansen says.

“The nitrogen-use trait is equally important in our portfolio,” Jansen adds. “You'll see more on this in the middle of next decade, after the drought traits are introduced.

“We will stack these traits on our triple-stack foundation,” he adds.

“Yield is a primary focus of our collaboration with BASF. In just the first few months, the companies have exchanged thousands of data points and developed hundreds of new gene constructs — product concepts that will be field-tested in the coming years.”

Improved insect protection and grain quality are two drivers behind Monsanto's next-generation triple-stacked YieldGard Triple Pro, to be introduced next year. “We added another gene for above-ground corn borer protection that picks up insects not well covered previously,” says Jansen.

OTHER PROJECTS IN the Monsanto pipeline include enhanced protection against aflatoxin and mycotoxin. Bayer Crop Science's research focuses on new crop protection modes of action, improved plant health, optimized plant characteristics and new agronomic traits. Bayer is also increasing its emphasis on herbicide tolerance, insect resistance and increased yields, with six herbicide tolerance and insect resistance projects in a late stage of development. They are scheduled for launch from 2010 onward.

Additionally, three new herbicide-tolerance traits are planned within the next three years, says Friedrich Berschauer, chairman of the Bayer board of management. By 2015, Bayer hopes to introduce tolerance traits to stressors including heat, drought, cold and soil salinity.

“It's an exciting and wonderful time to be in agriculture,” Graham says. “We've never had as many tools as we have right now to target new product development. Together with our diverse genetic germplasm base, our trait pipeline and our AYT technology, we have an unbelievable toolbox to develop new products for a diversifying agricultural industry.”

Editor's Note: Space limitations prevent a more complete listing of traits and companies.