Evogene's unique capabilities in plant genomics enable us to conduct multiple trait discovery and validation efforts under continuous programs to develop plants with advantageous key traits, leading to sustainable agricultural production. Such traits are valued by the industry at billions of dollars. Evogene is currently focusing on developing through means of biotechnology and advanced breeding improved traits for crops that feed the world, including corn, soybean, cotton, canola, rice and wheat, as well as castor for the production of biofuel.

To date, we have over 2,500 novel genes under granted or pending patents relating to these key plant traits, placing Evogene at the forefront of plant genomics.
The versatility and potential of our pipeline has been recognized by leading multinational seed companies who are partnering with us to introduce hundreds of these genes into their elite varieties and further develop them into commercial seeds displaying improved performances.

Trait Programs

Improved yield allows better utilization of existing arable lands by increasing productivity per plant or per area unit.| With current growth in world population and continuous improvements in quality of life in developing countries, agricultural output would have to double by 2050. Leading seed companies have stated their commitment for increasing yield productivity of main field crops in the next few decades.

Evogene’s improved yield for Monocot program focuses on yield enhancement for corn, wheat and rice, the three main staples which “feed the world” and are used both for human and animal consumption. The commercial corn seed market alone is valued at more than $9Bn.

In addition, the Improved Yield for Dicot program focuses on soybean, canola and cotton, some of the widely and universally grown crops that are used for a multitude of purposes, from food and feed to fuel and fiber.| Read more

Abiotic stress tolerance. Abiotic stresses such as, drought conditions, soil salinity and heat stress, results in reduced yield. Improving plant tolerance to these abiotic stresses increase yield and enables the use of semi-arable lands for agricultural production. |Developing plants displaying improved tolerance to abiotic stress has an important impact on crop productivity and agricultural supply, especially in light of global warming, erratic climate changes and annual loss of agricultural farming land.

Evogene’s program for improving plant resistance to abiotic stress was initiated in 2003 and focuses on key crops, such as corn, cotton, soybean and wheat.| Read more

Improved nitrogen use efficiency results in higher yield using fewer resources by enhancing the plant's utilization of nitrogen fertilizer, which reduces costs as well as land and water pollution. |Nitrogen fertilizers represent one of the largest input costs in agriculture, accounting for almost 25% of the operating costs for a corn producer.

Plants typically absorb less than half of the nitrogen fertilizer applied, and most of the rest leaches into the groundwater and pollutes the environment.|Read more

Biotic stress tolerance reduces costs due to use of pesticides as well as soil and water pollution.| Evogene is currently focusing on three programs for developing pest-resistant crops: soybeans resistant to cyst nematodes, a soil parasite which attacks the roots of developing plants and is one of the most yield limiting pests of soybean; soybeans resistant to soybean rust, one of the most devastating fungal diseases in soybean and bananas displaying resistance to Black Leaf Streak Disease (also known as Black Sigatoka), the most costly and damaging foliar disease to the export-banana industry.| Read more 

Key Trait-Crop Collaborations

For most of our trait programs, we are collaborating with multinational seed companies to develop commercial seeds displaying improved performances. The following table outlines Evogene’s partnerships and corresponding traits and crops being developed under each of such collaborations

Biofuel Program
Aimed at developing enhanced second generation feedstock for biofuel uses, currently focusing on castor as a source for biodiesel and biojet. |
The program is directed at realizing the potential of castor through transforming the plant into a modern, fully mechanized crop that would display high productivity when grown under rain-fed conditions.
Evogene is employing an integrated approach for crop enhancement combining proprietary tools for advanced breeding with agricultural technologies to develop improved castor varieties and growth protocols. Field trials are currently being conducted in Israel, as well as in Brazil in collaboration with SLC Agricola and South Cone Agriculture and in Texas, in collaboration with Texas A&M University.
Additional collaborators in this program include NASA, and Honeywell’s UOP, a leading international developer and licensor of refining process technology, to demonstrate suitability of castor oil for biojet fuel uses.
Based on results of a Life Cycle Analysis,  biodiesel based on Evogene's castor beans reduces net Greenhouse Gases (GHG) emissions by 90% in the U.S. and by more than 75% in Brazil compared with conventional diesel. In addition, Evogene's castor biodiesel improves GHG savings by 43% compared with soybean biodiesel. | Read more

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