In a significant development that marries traditional farming wisdom with cutting-edge biotechnology, Insignum AgTech, a US-based company, is redefining how farmers detect and respond to crop stress. The innovative approach, pioneered by founder and CEO Kyle Mohler, leverages gene editing to enable crops to communicate stress through visible color changes—a potential game-changer in agricultural practices.
Kyle Mohler’s dual expertise as both a farmer and a scientist has been instrumental in the creation of Insignum AgTech. Raised on a family farm in central Indiana, Mohler’s intimate knowledge of agriculture was complemented by his academic pursuits in biochemistry and biotechnology. His experiences on the farm, coupled with his scientific background, have shaped his approach to addressing one of the most pressing challenges in farming: the early detection and prevention of crop stress.
The core of Insignum’s technology lies in the use of native plant pigments as indicators of stress. By editing genes to activate these pigments, the company has created a system where plants can visually signal the onset of diseases, insect attacks, or nutritional deficiencies. For instance, in corn, the first crop that Insignum has worked with, the leaves turn purple at the initial stage of pathogen infection. This visual cue allows farmers to take timely action, applying crop protection only when necessary, thus potentially saving thousands of dollars and preserving the health of the crop.
Insignum’s work has now reached a pivotal moment, with the company entering its fourth year of field trials and recently gaining USDA approval to sell commercially in the US. The trials, conducted in collaboration with seed company Beck’s, have been crucial in refining the technology and demonstrating its effectiveness in real-world agricultural settings.
The implications of Insignum’s technology are profound. For one, it offers a sustainable alternative to the prevalent ‘spray-and-pray’ approach, where farmers apply fungicides and pesticides uniformly across their fields without knowing if they are needed. This not only leads to unnecessary expenses but also contributes to environmental pollution and the potential development of resistant pest strains. Insignum’s color-changing crops provide a targeted approach, enabling farmers to apply treatments only where and when they are necessary.
Moreover, this innovation aligns with the core tenets of agronomy, emphasizing the importance of applying the right product in the right place at the right time. It’s a smarter, more sustainable farming practice that could reduce the environmental footprint of agriculture while simultaneously enhancing crop yields and profitability.
Insignum’s technology also represents a shift towards precision agriculture, where data and technology are used to make farming more accurate and controlled. The ability to detect crop stress visually not only aids farmers on the ground but also has the potential to be integrated with digital farming tools, such as drones and AI-powered analysis, to further improve the efficiency and effectiveness of crop management.
As Insignum AgTech prepares for its commercial launch, the agricultural industry watches closely. The success of this technology could usher in a new era of farming, where the communication between plants and farmers becomes a cornerstone of agricultural practice. It is a step forward that could significantly impact how we approach crop cultivation and protection, potentially leading to more sustainable and productive farming worldwide.