NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – Bayer CropScience today announced the opening of an expanded seed research laboratory in Singapore to support development of new high-yielding and high quality seed varieties and hybrids.
The center represents a €20 million ($28.4 million) investment over the next five years, and research will employ cutting-edge technologies such as DNA biomarker analysis and molecular-assisted breeding.
The original rice seed analytics laboratory has been relocated and expanded to support a broader range of seed breeding and development work across Asia/Pacific, Bayer said.
Researchers at the new facility will screen and integrate innovative agronomic and quality traits in canola, corn, cotton, wheat, soybean, and rice. Additional work will be directed at plant pathology for better control of disease. Agronomic traits of interest include new modes of enhanced resistance to disease, pests, and environmental stress.
Quality traits of interest include better storability, easier processing, improved grain quality and nutritional profile, better cooking features, and in cotton, enhanced fiber quality.
Currently 15 scientists and technicians are employed in the new facility, which has a capacity for more than 30 researchers. Bayer said that it anticipates demand from its customers in Asia/Pacific for high quality sees to grow and plans to further invest in R&D as well as infrastructure to expand its seed business.