BioLumic expands xTraits program to corn in South America.

BioLumic announced the expansion of its Corn xTraits licensing program to South America. The initiative includes initial testing with GDM, collaboration with Tropical Melhoramento & Genética (TMG), and regional operations with Gro Alliance. This advancement supports the strategy of creating global xTraits hubs and keeps pace with the adoption of the technology in the United States.

CEO Steve Sibulkin stated that the South American presence guarantees global reach for partners. According to him, companies see an opportunity to improve performance in less time and at a lower cost compared to alternative approaches.

GDM evaluates the technology within its own genetic material. TMG provides regional expertise to accelerate field testing and tailor the xTraits platform to key corn-producing regions across the continent. The Scheffer Group conducts evaluations in multiple locations, including Mato Grosso, creating a direct route for validating light-activated traits and providing access to innovations for farmers in the region.

Tomas Tresca, from GDM, highlighted that the initial tests help to measure the potential of light-activated traits within the company's breeding strategies.

Off-season activities in Chile ensure continuous seed production, crossbreeding, and hybrid development for partners in both hemispheres. BioLumic anticipates expansion in Latin America over the next 12 to 15 months, aligned with the commercial plans of the companies involved.

The company is analyzing germplasm provided by Brazilian partners. Field trials and hybrid production will begin in 2026. The materials will be tested in the main crop season and off-season crop season to measure performance in the main production cycles and target regions. Data generated until 2027 will inform the timing of the commercial launch. BioLumic projects future growth for soybeans and ryegrass in the continent.

Anderson Meda, from TMG, assessed that the technology can complement efforts to increase stability and performance in the development of hybrids, especially in environments that value rapid product evolution.