All Monsanto 2017 corn hybrids sold in the United States will be treated with a new corn inoculant that showed a two-year average yield advantage of more than three bushels per acre. Monsanto and Novozymes through The BioAg Alliance have launched Acceleron B-300 SAT, derived from a fungus found in soil, and the first ‘upstream’ corn inoculant ever developed.
“Harnessing the power of nature’s microbes, farmers will be able to produce more crops while using fertilizer more efficiently and producing less CO2. This will benefit agriculture, consumers, and the environment,” said Colin Bletsky, Novozymes’ Vice President for BioAg in a recent release. “This is the first product jointly developed by Monsanto and Novozymes, and it shows the kind of innovation we can achieve in The BioAg Alliance. We believe it could be applied to more than 90 million acres by 2025 and become one of the biggest biological products in the ag industry.”
Farmers use seed coatings to protect their crops from yield-robbing threats, to improve plant health, and to increase nutrient availability. Acceleron B-300 SAT increases plants’ ability to take up nutrients and is an improved formulation of the JumpStart inoculant (Penicillium bilaiae), a product that existed in Novozymes’ pipeline before the formation of The BioAg Alliance.
The spores in previous versions of JumpStart last about 120 days on the seed after application, which meant farmers had to treat their seeds within a short time before planting. With Acceleron B-300 SAT, when seed is stored in proper conditions, the inoculant is viable for at least two years on the seed and is generally compatible with other seed coating chemistries. Monsanto can then coat the seeds with the microbial product before the seeds are shipped to retailers and farmers.
“Seed applied products – whether microbial or chemistry-based – can and should work together to help growers protect their seed investment and get more out of every acre,” said Juan Ferreira, Global Vice President of Monsanto’s Vegetable Seeds, Seed Applied Solutions and Crop Protection businesses. “Combining the fermentation and formulation expertise of Novozymes’ scientists – along with the innovative approach to seed coating and field-testing capabilities of the Monsanto team – produced a product that will give growers more flexibility in their application decisions and can ultimately result in higher yield.”
The Acceleron B-300 SAT inoculant will be added to Monsanto’s Seed Applied Solutions portfolio. In addition to applying the product to its DEKALB, Channel, and regional brands’ new 2017 corn hybrids, Monsanto said it will offer the product to its licensees and distributors.
