Syngenta Group to Share Genome-Editing Technologies for Academic Research

Syngenta Group, one of the world’s leading agricultural technology companies, has announced that it will grant rights to selected genome-editing and breeding technologies for academic research worldwide. This initiative, part of Syngenta’s commitment to fostering innovation and enhancing sustainability in agriculture, will be facilitated through its innovation collaboration platform, Shoots by Syngenta.

The intellectual property made available includes optimized CRISPR-Cas12a and gene-editing-enabled breeding tools. CRISPR gene-editing technology allows for the creation of improved plants without introducing DNA from other species, achieving results more quickly and efficiently than traditional methods.

Gusui Wu, Head of Global Seeds Research at Syngenta, stated, “The power of CRISPR technology has incredible potential to enable crop innovation to deliver value to farmers. The increased use of CRISPR in agriculture can transform the way we approach plant breeding, accelerating the discovery and deployment of innovations that provide growers more productive and resilient crops. We are inviting universities and academic institutions from around the world to help us drive innovation to improve the sustainability of agriculture.”

Syngenta’s scientists have continuously worked to improve CRISPR-Cas genome editing technologies. The CRISPR Cas12a has been engineered to enhance both its efficiency and utility, significantly optimizing it as a tool for crop improvement.

Historically, Syngenta has been open to sharing technology with both public and private entities, enabling easy access to its proprietary technologies for academic and non-profit research. For instance, Syngenta’s vegetable licensing platform allows breeding companies and academic institutes to access and utilize Syngenta germplasm.

The Shoots by Syngenta platform, established in 2023, aims to create partnerships to address complex challenges in food and agriculture. It connects academics, research institutes, and other entities with Syngenta’s global network of over 6,000 scientists to develop solutions that mitigate climate change, enhance biodiversity, and support both smallholder and large-scale farmers. The platform is founded on the principles of openness and transparency.

Stuart Harrison, Head of Global Seeds R&D Partnerships at Syngenta, remarked, “At Syngenta, we truly believe that collaboration accelerates innovation. This new initiative has tremendous potential to not only result in exciting technology innovations but to also drive critical crop solutions that will support farmers worldwide.”

Adrian Percy, Executive Director of the North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative, commented, “By accessing these innovative technologies from Syngenta, the North Carolina Plant Sciences Initiative and North Carolina State University can more broadly accelerate its capabilities in genome editing. We are excited about the application of these technologies in our research programs as they will certainly enable improvement to a variety of crops to the benefit of the grower community.”