Last week, an Iowa-based US soybean company, Schillinger Genetics INC, announced a proposal to register its first soybean variety in Argentina. The variety is not GMO and belongs to the group of maturity IV.
Earlier this year, Benson Hill Biosystems (BHB) announced the acquisition of Schillinger Genetics, also known as eMerge Genetics, to accelerate the development of high-protein, non-GMO soybean varieties for the food supply chain. BHB is one of the most dynamic companies in the field of gene editing.
Meanwhile, founded in 1999, Bullmark is a family-owned company based in the city of Junin (Buenos Aires Province), which provides crop growing services to third parties such as Don Mario, Nidera or Cargill.
They are focused on popcorn, legumes and soy crops, providing their customers with services for the production, storage and processing of agricultural products. Agronomist Estanislao Lopez Molinari leads the production of crops and is responsible for the registration of a new soybean variety VK 44P41.
“This is undoubtedly good news that a world-class company such as Benson Hill decides to work with local partners in Argentina,” said agronomist Javier Presiado Patinho, founder of RIA Consultores.
"In the Argentinean soybean industry, GMO varieties intended for the feed industry predominate, but there is a growing demand for non-GMO soybeans for distribution to the food industry, and there are already some players producing this specialty," he added.
“On the other hand, gene editing technology can be a devastating way to increase crop yields and crop quality without entering into the structure of GMOs,” he concluded.