Evogene Ltd., a plant genomics company in Israel that uses gene modification for improvisation in crop quality and productivity has partnered with Brazil’s IMAmt (Instituto Mato-grossense do Algodão), a cotton seed developer and marketer, to work together on the development of insect resistant cotton seeds.
Evogene will be identifying genes that are effective against the fall armyworm and cotton boll weevil. After IMAmet validates Evogenes findings, both the company’s will enter negotiations for commercial license agreement.
The costs of mitigating cotton boll weevil and the fall armyworm attack is $468 million in Brazil alone and the insecticides are only marginally effective. Global cotton production is estimated at $30 billion.
Mr Alvaro Lourenco Ortolan Salles, IMAmt director, said “When visiting Evogene, we saw great potential for a collaboration between our two companies. We are confident that together we will be able to respond to the various challenges that tropical agriculture imposes on us.”
