Apr 21, 2023

Ginkgo Bioworks and Syngenta to develop new seed traits

Ginkgo Bioworks and Syngenta Seeds have announced a research partnership focused on screening a targeted genetic library for new trait discovery.

The results of the research are intended to inform future seed trait development so that farmers can grow healthier and more resilient crops, according to a news release.

Under the collaboration agreement, Ginkgo and Syngenta will work together by leveraging Ginkgo’s extensive protein engineering capabilities and proprietary ultra high-throughput screening technologies to complement and accelerate Syngenta’s efforts to design and develop innovative plant traits.

Innovative research partnerships of this kind are becoming more common in agriculture as the industry better understands the value of seeking out collaborations of all types and cross-pollinating expertise and capabilities across diverse industries. according to the release. Ginkgo and Syngenta’s partnership embodies the ethos of collaboration by addressing the challenges facing farmers around the world, leveraging new ideas, novel technologies, and unique partnerships, according to the release.

“We are excited to leverage our proprietary ultra high-throughput single-cell encapsulation and screening platform to support Syngenta’s development efforts to bring the next generation of innovative products to farmers,” Magalie Guilhabert, Ginkgo’s vice president and head of ag biologicals, said in the release. “As we tackle agriculture’s greatest challenges, we’re excited to partner with global leaders like Syngenta and empower them to solve some of the most pressing challenges facing agriculture worldwide.”

Ginkgo is building a platform for cell programming and biosecurity while Syngenta is one of the world’s leading agricultural technology companies.