The partnership will see Zymergen using its molecular library and computational models to speed up the development of the crop protection products
The partnership between FMC and Zymergen aims to develop nature-based crop protection solutions. (Credit: Pixabay/Franck Barske.)
FMC Corporation has collaborated with Zymergen, a California-based science and material innovation company, for the development of novel crop protection solutions.
FMC and Zymergen aim to develop natural products discovery process, which can help in creating novel crop protection solutions.
According to the two companies, changing consumer sentiment and increase in regulatory scrutiny are presenting new opportunities to use technology in a sustainable manner. The collaboration seeks to address rising food needs for a growing global population.
While Zymergen will bring its vast molecular library and its expertise in synthetic biology to the partnership, FMC will support in dramatically improving the success rate in developing the crop protection products.
FMC vice president and chief technology officer Kathleen Shelton said: “We look forward to working together with Zymergen to identify new molecules in ways we have not been able to in the past. FMC has an established and effective molecule discovery process that begins with chemistry. Together, we have an unparalleled advantage to quickly learn from nature and accelerate our product pipeline to address customers’ needs with precision.
“We’re proud to work collaboratively with leading companies like Zymergen as we enter a new era of innovation, building upon the ingenuity that has long existed in our R&D pipeline.”
The two companies will target biochemical processes specific to known pests and scale the production process for viable natural product gene clusters.
FMC to develop criteria to address the most important needs of growers
Zymergen’s library of over one million gene clusters along with its fermentation and bioinformatics expertise, will support FMC in developing a criteria that can address growers’ most important needs for new modes of action to manage resistance.
The selection criteria will also inform Zymergen’s computational models and in turn, speed up the discovery of higher-performing crop protection solutions based on nature.
Zymergen chief science officer and co-founder Zach Serber said: “Zymergen’s expertise in synthetic biology, automation, and machine learning will complement FMC’s deep understanding of agriculture. By partnering with nature to discover and produce molecules, we can create breakthrough solutions which address critical industry problems.
“Together, our goal is to convert the complexity of nature to create useful products that allow growers to better control pests and diseases.”