Ontera's platform enables farmers to address potential yield issues and threats to their harvest before they take hold

BASFcollaborate

Image: BASF and Ontera have collaborated on molecular diagnostic platform for in-field disease monitoring. Photo: courtesy of BASF SE.

BASF has entered into a research collaboration with Ontera on molecular diagnostic platform to assist farmers with in-field disease monitoring.

Under the deal, the partnership will focus on detecting diseases and resistances in plants through using Ontera’s molecular diagnostic platform.

BASF’s Agricultural Solutions division research and development crop protection senior vice president Jürgen Huff said: “Innovative diagnostic technology to catch threats to yield and quality early on is vital for modern, sustainable agriculture.

“Our customers are professionals who expect innovation at the highest standards, and Ontera’s platform is a great complement to the strong innovation portfolio of BASF. It provides farmers with critical information needed to save crops, reduce losses and optimize pesticide application.”

Ontera’s molecular diagnostic platform for in-field disease monitoring

Ontera’s platform holds to analyse and quantify multiple characteristics within 20 minutes, helping farmers to solve issues and threats to their harvest before they take hold.

The partnership will offer farmers with easy-to-use and laboratory-quality molecular information in the field to provide early and accurate treatment for plant diseases, helping to generate quality yields.

Ontera’s platform applies silicon nanopore single-molecule sensors for multi-plex measurement of nucleic acids, proteins and small molecules.

The platform, which is lightweight and durable, will provide quantitative analysis of traits, pathogens and pathogen resistance within minutes, helping to eliminate time-consuming laboratory procedures that make in-season and targeted application of crop protection products problematic.

Ontera’s single-molecule detection and genome analysis platforms are based on advanced biochemistry and silicon nanopore chip-based sensors.

Ontera CEO Murielle Thinard-McLane said: “This collaboration is an excellent example of how Ontera is democratizing precision diagnostics to create a more sustainable planet.

“We share BASF’s commitment to sustainable agriculture and by applying innovative thinking to real-world farming challenges, we can improve access to high quality foods in an environmentally healthy way, all while increasing the productivity and predictability of harvests.”