| Corteva

Pioneer promotes Live on the future of genetics in agriculture through CRISPR/Cas9 technology

Event open to the public takes place on 17/12, at 19pm, on the brand's YouTube channel

15.12.2020 | 20:59 (UTC -3)

Michele Araujo

Pioneer, a seed brand from Corteva Agriscience, is promoting next Thursday, 17th, at 19pm, a Live on the future of genetics in agriculture through the use of CRISPR/Cas9 technology. The event will feature the participation of Sandra Milach, Global Leader of Systems and Innovations for Genetic Improvement at Corteva, Dr. Alexandre Nepomuceno, General Head of Embrapa Soja and Dr. Luiz Carlos Federizzi, Professor of Genetics and Plant Improvement at the Faculty of Agronomy from UFRGS, mediated by Carlos Raupp, Corteva Research Leader for Brazil and Paraguay.

CRISPR/Cas9 is a genetic editing technique that allows the creation of an improved plant, by eliminating an unwanted trait or improving a characteristic, without including DNA from a different species. The use of CRISPR/Cas9 allows the development of products with characteristics that were previously non-existent or difficult to select by breeders, such as, for example, wheat varieties with reduced gluten content. The 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to two scientists, Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier, for the discovery and application of the CRISPR Cas technique.

In April 2019, Corteva and Embrapa entered into a partnership for research using CRISPR/Cas9 with the aim of contributing to solutions for Brazilian agriculture. The agreement provides for the use of the technique to develop drought-tolerant and nematode-resistant soybean varieties, in addition to encompassing research in the area of digital agriculture.

Live will address how CRISPR/Cas9 can help advance plant genetics and, consequently, the agricultural sector; how much progress has been made in these studies and tests; which projects are being developed by Corteva scientists with the tool, how the work is going together with Embrapa and what can be expected for the future.

The event is open to the public and will be broadcast live on Pioneer's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/pioneersementes.