For the first time, signals produced by a plant’s physiological response to infection will be linked to optimised crop treatments delivered with John Deere See & Spray technology.
InnerPlant, the seed technology company enabling the earliest possible detection of stress in crops to make farming universally more efficient and sustainable, Syngenta, a global leader in agricultural innovation and crop protection and John Deere, a global leader in the delivery of agricultural, and construction, and forestry equipment, announce a joint effort to develop an integrated solution to fight fungus in soybeans. The first-of-its-kind solution will link together plants that give off early and specific signals when under attack by fungus with optimised crop protection treatments that are delivered with See & Spray technology.
“Fungal diseases are a massive and growing problem facing farmers who already face a great deal of risk in their operations,” explains Shely Aronov, CEO and co-founder of InnerPlant. “A solution that links signals directly from plants’ physiological responses to the individualised, precise delivery of optimised inputs will make farmers’ lives easier by delivering both improved efficacy and efficiency.”
Globally, crops are attacked by fungal diseases that result in substantial yield losses. And the problem is getting worse, according to experts who cite climate change and rising resistance to common fungicides as contributing to fast-rising fungal attacks that threaten the world’s food supply and a “global health catastrophe.”
“The technology from InnerPlant allows the detection of plant diseases at the earliest possible stage identifying plant diseases that otherwise often go undetected or untreated,” says Feroz Sheikh, Syngenta’s Chief Information and Digital Officer. “We are happy to engage in these initial trials with our partners. Integrated, innovative solutions are a critical path forward for managing the growing impact of soybean diseases and ensuring that farmers have the tools they need to feed the world.”
