ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER RESEARCH • Seed-Safe In-Furrow • Low Salt Index • Ready-to-Use Formula • Strong Root Development visit us online: alpinepfl.com | call: 1.844.655.BIOK (2465) YOUR SEED’S FAVORITE STARTER FERTILIZER SCAN NOW TO LEARN MORE Strong Root Development through seed-based genetic resistance.” A first-generation launch of gene-edited, disease-resistant hybrids or varieties is pending product testing and regulatory authorizations. ANOTHER GAME-CHANGER Beyond gene editing, researchers and agribusinesses are working to bring “spray-on” molecular technologies to growers. Sprayinduced gene silencing (SIGS) is in its early stages, yet the technology represents a huge leap forward in crop protection. According to Subramanian, the products are applied topically and degrade naturally, delivering the precision of gene editing without permanently altering the crop’s DNA. It uses double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) to silence specific pathogen genes through RNAi. “That offers a much faster, smoother regulatory path,” he says, adding that they’re highly programmable. “If a sudden new disease outbreak occurs, scientists can rapidly redesign the spray’s active molecules to target the new threat within weeks, giving growers an agile, rapid-response tool to combat emerging crises.” Peptide binders are another visionary technology. They are small, engineered amino acid chains designed to bind to and disable pathogen proteins. • “Gene editing can help breeders achieve specific performance goals, but it doesn’t operate in isolation, and it’s not a universal replacement for other tools. - Cory Christensen Corn pipeline development lead, Corteva Agriscience
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