NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) – Ag-bio informatics firm Benson Hill Biosystems has announced a strategic partnership with the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA).
The partners said they will work together to accelerate breeding and development of new corn hybrids using Benson Hill's CropOS platform. Benson Hill will also receive a grant from NCGA for an undisclosed amount.
The cloud-based CropOS platform combines genomic data with curated expert knowledge to predict trait characteristics in plant breeding.
NCGA represents more than 40,000 corn farmers nationwide. "Our members are telling us loud and clear that they need more choices in the corn marketplace," Larry Hoffmann, a corn grower and chairman of NCGA’s Corn Productivity & Quality Action Team, said in a statement. "We believe that the CropOS platform offers a fresh approach to leverage big data and technology and foster a more competitive industry. Our partnership heralds an exciting new era of opportunity for our members to access better hybrids from a more diversified market."
In June, Benson Hill signed a deal with Donald Danforth Plant Science Center to analyze sorghum genetics using CropOS.