b"With each trial, the models improve. BioLumic has a pro-totype of their commercial setup in Champaign, Illinois. Seeds travel under the lights on a conveyor belt, and treatment takes only a few seconds. The researchers can treat seeds with 20 to 30 selected UV recipes from the data model and quickly survey for desired gene expressions when plants first emerge from the soil.The seedlings showing desired gene expression can go to the field. One of the things we see as being really powerful for the commercialization of the work is that this isn't like breeding where you have to spend multiple years breeding in a trait, Wargent says. You can turn around a recipe placement within a season. It could be done as pre-season preparation. Its like an instantaneous production of an outcome.In addition to facilitating yield increase,UV technology is also useful for other targets like disease prevention and pest resist-ance. Early-stage data regarding soybeans and herbivores in a greenhouse experiment showed a 50% decrease in pest feeding on the leaves of plants grown from treated seeds. Partnering UpWargent says BioLumic is ready to commercialize. Over the pastJason Wargent and Jim Schweigert at the ASTA Leadership couple years, the company has completed nearly 4,000 fieldSummit in Sacramento in June 2023.PHOTO: GRO ALLIANCEtrials in the United States. In June 2023, they partnered with Gro Alliance, a seed supply chain solutions company. Gro Alliance works directly with seed companies, breeding organizations andor back to the seed company for further packaging or further startups to bring in new technologies or enhanced seed prod- treatment.ucts to farmers.For now, farmers may still want to use traditional fungi-Anytime we see something novel that we believe couldcides and insecticides to protect the seed in the ground, but represent a step change in performance or could reduce inputsSchweigert considers it possible that synthetic chemical applica-and still help farmers achieve more output, we pursue thosetions might be unnecessary in the future. opportunities and want to partner with those companies, saysThe main focus has been on yield, he says. But there's vir-Jim Schweigert, Gro Alliance president. We believe that sustain- tually unlimited opportunity to use different UV light recipes with able innovative solutions to reduce inputs and increase outputs isdifferent varieties for different outcomes.where agriculture is heading.He lists possibilities such as increasing oil and protein, speed-Wargent adds they have not yet established pricing but heing up germination, stimulating faster development and promot-expects it will be comparable to typical single seed treatments.ing root growth as other opportunities that could be promoted There are also no regulatory hurdles to overcome.UV light isvia UV treatment.nonionizing radiation; its not genetic modification or chemistryCould soybeans have a better root system so they're able to and researchers are not applying anything to the germplasm inpower through dry weather? Schweigert questions. Could they terms of physical materials.get out of the ground faster and get to sunlight capture quicker? What we're doing is truly clean and green, Wargent says.We think about it in terms of what agronomic characteristics we The team will install the first commercial-scale light applica- could maximize.tion in 2024 at Gro Alliances production facility in Mt. Pulaski,It democratizes yield improvement because you can take Illinois.seed from any company, and by finding the right UV light recipe, (We will offer the opportunity for) companies to bringyou can improve those seeds a step beyond what they're doing their genetics to us with (Gro Alliance) as a hub for treatment,as a breeding organization, Schweigert adds. Germplasm pro-Wargent adds. We match the recipes now through the fall ofviders are still going to work on genetic improvements through next year so we have the recipes in place, and then (the seeds)gene editing and other breeding techniques, but now you've got go out into testing sites around the U.S. this opportunity to speed up yield enhancement by several years Our role here is to provide the facility and infrastructure towith UV light application.get it to commercial scale, Schweigert says. (We will) receiveIt's clear that all varieties of crops have significant headroom the seeds, run them through the UV light application system, andfor improvement, Wargent says. Our view is that were unlock-package those seeds so they can be shipped tothe customering that. SW26/ SEEDWORLD.COMDECEMBER 2023"