Monsanto and Nomad Bioscience collaborate on gene-editing research to drive agricultural innovation

US agricultural specialist Monsanto Company and German biotechnology specialist Nomad Bioscience have announced a licensing agreement whereby Monsanto has obtained rights to apply Nomad’s proprietary technology to its genome-editing projects aimed at enhancement of agricultural crops.

Nomad’s biomaterial pipeline consists of several selected product candidates, including plant-made cellulase enzymes for bioethanol production and antimicrobial proteins, including colicins, lysins and other bacteriocins, for food safety and human and animal health use.

Nomad’s licensed technology enables more efficient development of edited traits and may be applied across a broad range of genome-editing technologies and project types. Nomad’s novel approach holds the promise to accelerate the development of improved agricultural products via genome editing.

‘Commercial varieties’

 “Our approach greatly increases both the efficiency of genome editing and the ability to deploy edited traits in commercial varieties, which could prove to be beneficial to the speed and scale at which potential products are developed,” said Yuri Gleba, chief executive officer and Nomad founder.

The agreement includes a three-year research project, during which scientists at Nomad will continue to expand the applicability of its technology.

 In addition, the agreement provides Monsanto with rights to use Nomad’s technology for research projects during the term, as well as an option for an exclusive commercial license to apply the proprietary technology in the development of agriculture products. Additional details of the agreement were not disclosed.

“Monsanto is committed to delivering best-in-class solutions to growers who face increasing challenges every year,” said Tom Adams, biotechnology lead for Monsanto.

“Our collaboration with Nomad is one example of how we employ the industry’s best science through our own R&D pipeline and through strategic partnerships to continually drive agriculture innovation,” Adams.

Gene-editing technologies offer a way for scientists to develop site-directed integration of specific genes as well as the opportunity to enhance beneficial or remove undesired plant characteristics.

In a statement, Monsanto said it believed that genome-editing technologies will enable plant breeders to deliver better hybrids and varieties more efficiently, as well as offer plant scientists additional resources to deliver new improvements in plant biotechnology.