A pioneering collaboration between agri-biotech innovator Phytoform and global agriculture technology leader Corteva is set to explore the potential of artificial intelligence in enhancing natural disease resistance in corn, the most widely grown crop in the U.S. This partnership aims to revolutionize crop improvement by combining Corteva’s global leadership in agriculture innovation with Phytoform’s cutting-edge plant breeding technology and AI-driven approach.
The collaboration will harness Phytoform’s CRE.AI.TIVE AI technology to apply gene editing techniques that improve corn’s resilience to two of the most damaging diseases affecting U.S. growers. This initiative is a significant step towards making global food production more sustainable and secure for one of the world’s most important crops.
“We’re thrilled to have signed this agreement with Corteva,” says Dr. Will Pelton, chief executive of Phytoform, based at the Rothamsted Research site in the UK. “By accelerating what nature can achieve through our shared technologies, we’re taking steps to make global food production more sustainable and secure for one of the world’s most important crops.”
The project will focus on optimizing the gene expression of two native genes crucial to disease resistance in corn. Phytoform will utilize CRE.AI.TIVE to sift through millions of potential variations in DNA control regions, selecting those that demonstrate activity in plant cells. This collaboration will be integrated into Genlytix, Corteva’s comprehensive ecosystem that combines advanced gene editing capabilities, data analytics, and strategic partnerships.
Tom Greene, senior director at Corteva and global leader of Corteva Catalyst, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration: “We’re excited to leverage the contributions of Phytoform’s CRE.AI.TIVE AI platform with our industry-leading Genlytix ecosystem to continue to grow Corteva’s position as a leader in developing critical solutions for US farmers.”
By narrowing the gap between trait discovery and commercial deployment, Phytoform offers a viable alternative to traditional methods of identifying new crop improvement techniques. This approach enables plant breeders to target resilience traits with greater speed and accuracy, potentially transforming the landscape of agricultural biotechnology.
Dr. Nicolas Kral, Phytoform’s chief technology officer and co-founder, emphasized the broader implications of this work: “This work shows how AI and biology can come together to build a more climate-resilient food system. We’re not just fixing plants, we’re future-proofing agriculture.”
Corteva Agriscience, a publicly traded global pure-play agriculture company, provides farmers worldwide with a complete portfolio, including a balanced and diverse mix of seed, crop protection, and digital solutions focused on maximizing productivity to enhance yield and profitability. This collaboration underscores the potential of integrating advanced technologies to address critical challenges in modern agriculture.