Vylor, Rainbow Crops join hands to develop climate-resilient corn using AI and gene editing

Global Agriculture

Belgium: Vylor, an advanced seed and genetics company, and Belgium-based agtech firm Rainbow Crops have announced a collaboration to accelerate the development of new corn traits using artificial intelligence (AI) and gene-editing technology. The partnership will focus on developing corn hybrids that can better withstand extreme weather conditions, including heat, drought and flooding, while using agricultural inputs more efficiently and potentially delivering higher yields. Under the collaboration, the companies will use Rainbow Crops’ AI-supported Trait Foundry platform along with Vylor’s expertise in gene editing and seed genetics. The technology allows scientists to make multiple genetic changes simultaneously and assess how those changes affect plant performance. Rainbow Crops said its Trait Foundry platform combines AI, multiplex genome editing, precision breeding and automated phenotyping, which involves measuring plant characteristics at high speed and scale. The platform is designed to work on complex traits influenced by multiple genes, such as drought tolerance and plant vigour. According to the companies, the technology could help accelerate the development of crop traits compared with conventional breeding methods. “We are thrilled to collaborate with Vylor, a global leader in advanced seed and genetics, to explore new opportunities for innovation in corn,” said Giacomo Bastianelli, CEO and co-founder...