ZeaKal today announced a collaboration with ag retailer Nutrien Ag Solutions to support commercialization of ZeaKal’s PhotoSeed™ trait technology for U.S. soybean growers, with the goal of creating higher value, more diversified and sustainable global soybean supply chain.
The PhotoSeed™ technology increases photosynthetic capacity and the enhanced carbon capture in soybeans results in improved oil and protein without compromising field yields benefiting every participant on the soybean supply chain, including farmers, soybean processors, food companies and ultimately the consumer.
“There is no question, the world needs a better soybean and the collaboration with Nutrien Ag Solutions brings us one step closer to that reality,” said Han Chen, ZeaKal CEO and Co-Founder. “Nutrien Ag Solutions is a critical piece of the puzzle for ZeaKal, growers and our other collaborators in fully realizing the potential of PhotoSeed. Together, we can accelerate and increase the depth of our product offering with flexible and customized agronomic solutions that protect the yield potential and value created through our genetics.”
Today’s announcement completes the loop of ZeaKal’s “NewType” agriculture model, bringing multiple supply chain collaborators together for a strategic collaboration that connects genetics in the field to the entire soybean value chain.
In 2021, ZeaKal signed a partnership agreement with Gro Alliance, one of North America’s largest independent soy and corn contract seed producers, ensuring locally produced seed that improves seed costs for growers. And in 2022 ZeaKal entered into a multi-year collaborative agreement with Perdue AgriBusiness, agreeing to purchase future PhotoSeed soybean harvest from growers. Last month, ZeaKal signed a licensing agreement with the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council (MSMC) to combine ZeaKal’s PhotoSeed™ photosynthetic capabilities with MSMC’s patented high-oleic SOYLEIC® soybean.
For Nutrien Ag Solutions, this collaboration exemplifies their commitment to offer growers more diversity in their soybean production practices and new income streams not tied solely to yield. Under the terms of the collaboration, Nutrien Ag Solutions will release ZeaKal-branded soybean seeds to U.S. growers in time for the 2024 growing season.
Learn more about this exciting new venture in this interview with ZeaKal CEO and Co-Founder Han Chen.
Interview with Han Chen, ZeaKal (12:33)