b'PROTECTING INNOVATIONWhat Commitments are Seed Companies Making to Innovation?SEED INNOVATIONS AREa crucial part of feed- Short statue corn, nutrient/water stress, high oil con-ing a hungry planet, but do most people understandtent, longer ear length with more kernels, more beans/what this commitment means? Im not sure evenpod, etc., and now specific quality traits for healthier most people who have been in the seed industry forliving. Those are the basics.many years understand the commitment, the time, theFor some 26 years weve seen a dramatic change in resources, the dedication it takes to meet growers andU.S. row crop production with the introduction of GMO consumers unmet needs. Well use corn and soybeanstraits which in essence have reduced the stress from for this article, next month will be tomatoes and lettuce. weed/pest competition. This introduction of traits also ELOY CORONA Lets always start with customers. What do grow- necessitated more comprehensive global regulatory is the executiveers expect of their seed companies? My experiencepackages to ensure unrestricted global trade as well as director of the Seedwith growers for earning their business is a commit- mitigate insect/weed resistance management.Innovation andment to seed varieties/hybrids that produce high yieldsIn the U.S. we are lucky to have a vast breadbasket Protection Alliancethat keep their operating costs/unit down and theiracross a wide swath of land north-south, east to west (SIPA). profitability potential high. Yes there are some qualitysuited for corn and soybean cultivation by approxi-contracts focused on a particular premium driven char- mately 320K row crop growers. Each of these grow-acteristic, but lets skip that for now. ers expect varieties/hybrids that meet their maturity Yield, according to plant breeders is a function ofgroup, soil adaptation, disease tolerance/resistance, genetic potential, environment and management thepest/weed management, seed size needs as well as old yield = f(genetic potential x environment x manage- anticipate future unmet needs (i.e. climate stress, effi-ment) equation. A growers own on farm yield is gener- cient photosynthesis, etc.). ally challenged with many types of stresses related toSeed companies must continually innovate in order this equation soil type, fertility, moisture availabilityto earn a growers seed business and must re-invest during season, planting dates, plant populations, pests,some 15% of revenues (turnover) back into new seed diseases, weeds, weather events, timing, heat units,innovations. Seed companies must provide a complete seed treatments, etc. Growers look for a seed innova- portfolio to satisfy as large a swath of growers needs tion solution that helps reduce the nickel and dimeas possible. Dont forget to factor in the many different reduction in yield potential that happen on the farm. crops seed companies may be committed to.Plant breeders focus on continually increasing theSeed innovations require a significant commitment of yield potential of their elite lines through old and newtalented people, resources, and a germplasm pool over a plant breeding techniques. Both have a place, butlong period of time to meet growers unmet needs.todays new plant breeding techniques offer faster andDo you have that commitment?SWmore precise understanding how to move two steps forward without taking a step backward! In depth understanding on what part of the genome is respon-sible for yield, disease tolerance, fruit setting, height, stress mitigation is a very complicated situation, but its amazing at what todays plant breeders can and areON THE WEBWHERE doing! And theyre doing it knowing that theyre new lines wont hit commercial fields for 7-8 years. TheyTo learn more about the commitments corn and soybean seed companies are taking for have to have their finger on the pulse of growers andcustomers, visit: seedworld.com/what-commitments-are-seed-companies-making-consumers unmet needs as they decipher their work.to-innovation.86/ SEEDWORLD.COMDECEMBER 2022'