Multinational companies sign agreement to launch nematode-resistant soybeans

A strategic advance in agricultural biotechnology has been announced. Multinationals BASF, Corteva Agriscience, and M.S. Technologies, L.L.C. have entered into a licensing agreement that promises to transform soybean cultivation in Brazil. The partnership foresees the launch, by the end of the decade, of a soybean variety with an unprecedented combination of genetic traits, including resistance to nematodes, herbicides, and insects. According to information released by BASF, the innovation will be incorporated into the Enlist E3® and Conkesta E3® platforms, widely used by Brazilian producers. The highlight of the technology is the NRS trait (nematode-resistant), which has demonstrated over 90% control against Pratylenchus brachyurus – one of the main causes of losses in soybean crops – in over 160 field tests conducted over the past seven years. The solution combines tolerance to three herbicides (2,4-D choline salt, glyphosate, and glufosinate) with protection against ...