Syngenta is combining its knowledge of crop biology with the proprietary artificial intelligence methods of Britain-based TraitSeq to identify highly specific indicators of a plant’s cellular state called biomarkers and ultimately development innovative, high-performance biostimulants. When activated, these biomarkers can indicate how well a plant is responding to efforts to boost its health or to block the effects of external, abiotic stressors.
Biostimulants are products applied to plants, seeds, or the root environment that enhance natural plant processes, leading to an improved nutrient use efficiency, increased tolerance to abiotic stress or better crop quality. Biostimulants are a vital and growing component of sustainable agriculture, yet their performance can vary depending on environmental factors such as temperature and local climate.
Syngenta has extensive data across different branches of science — such as genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and phenomics. Using TraitSeq’s sophisticated proprietary platform, scientists from both teams hope to leverage AI to analyze complex biological big data, to uncover the intricate molecular interactions that impact a crop’s ability to utilize available nutrients in the soil. Once specific biomarkers can be identified, scientists hope to be able to quickly and accurately assess the efficacy of a new biostimulant in enhancing plant health.
The development of such biostimulants also fits in Syngenta’s efforts to support regenerative practices and its commitment to sustainability.
Camilla Corsi, Head of Crop Protection Research at Syngenta, said: “At Syngenta, we are accelerating the pace at which we innovate, to deliver solutions farmers urgently need. Technologies such as TraitSeq’s AI-driven platform enable us to revolutionize our research, attain important data-driven insights, so that we can develop the next-generation of sustainable solutions faster — while further strengthening our pipeline of innovative agricultural technologies.”
Biostimulants offer an important solution to farmers seeking to improve the sustainability of their farming operations while addressing challenges arising from an increasingly constrained toolbox of available agricultural technologies and evolving consumer demands.
