Conceiving New Growing Tools

Agricultural Biologicals

Agricultural biologicals are either derived from natural materials, contain them, or use naturally-occurring processes to provide a benefit to crop production. They are also a part of our commitment to bringing a broad range of solutions to support farmers.

Each year, farmers make dozens of decisions, each of which can affect how successful the harvest will be. Like deciding which kind of seed to plant, what kind of weed or insect control product to use, and which fungicide is most effective.

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Conceiving New Growing Tools

Agricultural Biologicals

Agricultural biologicals are either derived from natural materials, contain them, or use naturally-occurring processes to provide a benefit to crop production. They are also a part of our commitment to bringing a broad range of solutions to support farmers.

Each year, farmers make dozens of decisions, each of which can affect how successful the harvest will be. Like deciding which kind of seed to plant, what kind of weed or insect control product to use, and which fungicide is most effective.

 

 

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What innovations are made to help farmers?

Two main technologies are at the core of our agricultural biologicals platform: microbials and BioDirect.

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What innovations are made to help farmers?

 

Two main technologies are at the core of our agricultural biologicals platform: microbials and BioDirect.

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Microbial Products

Microbes can be found in nature. For example, soil is saturated with microorganisms, and a tablespoon of soil could contain around 50 billion of them.

Microbes have also been used in our food for thousands of years. From bread to cheese, yogurt, beer, wine, vinegar, soy sauce, sauerkraut, injera, kimchi, and even the preparation of chocolate. Our food is delicious thanks in part to the presence and activity of microbes. In agriculture, folks are developing products containing microbes that can be applied to the surface of seeds and complement — or provide an alternative to — chemical agricultural products.

[unex_ce_basic_banner_landing layer-name="microbials" layout="align-center-left" has_overlay="no-overlay" cutout_image="4546" cutout_image_filename="sprout_medium_tall.png" cutout_layout="align-bottom" id="content_5wf7esibx" post_id="3182" semplice_styles_background_color="#dfeade" semplice_styles_background_image="https://monsanto.com/app/uploads/2017/05/topography_forest_light.png" semplice_styles_background_size="auto" semplice_styles_background_position="50% 0%" semplice_styles_background_repeat="no-repeat" semplice_styles_padding_top="0px" semplice_styles_padding_bottom="0px" semplice_styles_padding_left="0" semplice_styles_padding_right="0"] <h1>Microbial Products</h1><p>Microbes can be found in nature. For example, soil is saturated with microorganisms, and a tablespoon of soil could contain around 50 billion of them.</p><p>Microbes have also been used in our food for thousands of years. From bread to cheese, yogurt, beer, wine, vinegar, soy sauce, sauerkraut, injera, kimchi, and even the preparation of chocolate. Our food is delicious thanks in part to the presence and activity of microbes. In agriculture, folks are developing products containing microbes that can be applied to the surface of seeds and complement — or provide an alternative to — chemical agricultural products.</p> [/ce_basic_banner_landing]
That’s why we partner with Novozymes through The BioAg Alliance.

The BioAg Alliance is dedicated to enhancing research and development of microbial technology to help productivity of crops around the world.

The use of microbial products is one of the important decisions farmers make, and can affect the outcome of a harvest just as easily as decisions farmers have made for decades about things like seeds and fertilizer. For example, farmers can decide whether to use a microbial product that grows on a plant’s roots, which can make nutrients like phosphate or nitrogen more available for the plants and in turn help them grow.

[unex_ce_basic_content_centered layer-name="bio ag centered" id="content_kl8gp4348" post_id="3182" semplice_styles_background_color="#f9f8f7" semplice_styles_background_image="" semplice_styles_background_size="auto" semplice_styles_background_position="50% 0%" semplice_styles_background_repeat="no-repeat" semplice_styles_padding_top="64px" semplice_styles_padding_bottom="64px" semplice_styles_padding_left="0" semplice_styles_padding_right="0"] <h5><span style="color:#82b383;">That’s why we partner with Novozymes through The BioAg Alliance.</span></h5><p>The BioAg Alliance is dedicated to enhancing research and development of microbial technology to help productivity of crops around the world.</p><p>The use of microbial products is one of the important decisions farmers make, and can affect the outcome of a harvest just as easily as decisions farmers have made for decades about things like seeds and fertilizer. For example, farmers can decide whether to use a microbial product that grows on a plant’s roots, which can make nutrients like phosphate or nitrogen more available for the plants and in turn help them grow.</p> [/ce_basic_content_centered]

BioDirect Technology

Our second agricultural biological technology is called BioDirect. We are developing products that engage a naturally occurring process called RNA interference (RNAi).

RNAi has been naturally present in agricultural traits for hundreds of years. RNAi is responsible for the yellow color of soybeans, for example. But the underlying process was discovered in the 1990s, opening new areas of research in human, animal, and plant health. Cells of animals and plants normally use the instructions from thousands of genes in DNA to make important building blocks like proteins. These instructions are written out in a molecular “recipe” (also known as mRNA).

Like a cook adjusting a recipe for a meal, cells use RNAi to reduce the use of a specific mRNA so that just the right amount of a particular protein is made. RNAi is so specific that it can stop the production of a pigment gene so soybeans are yellow instead of black without affecting thousands of other important “recipes.”

[unex_ce_basic_banner_split layer-name="biodirect" layout="align-center-left" id="content_xzzhhyeg3" post_id="3182" semplice_styles_background_color="#dfeade" semplice_styles_background_image="https://monsanto.com/app/uploads/2017/05/IMG_7151_crop.png" semplice_styles_background_size="auto" semplice_styles_background_position="50% 0%" semplice_styles_background_repeat="no-repeat" semplice_styles_padding_top="0px" semplice_styles_padding_bottom="0px" semplice_styles_padding_left="0" semplice_styles_padding_right="0"] <h2>BioDirect Technology</h2><p>Our second agricultural biological technology is called BioDirect. We are developing products that engage a naturally occurring process called RNA interference (RNAi).</p><p>RNAi has been naturally present in agricultural traits for hundreds of years. RNAi is responsible for the yellow color of soybeans, for example. But the underlying process was discovered in the 1990s, opening new areas of research in human, animal, and plant health. Cells of animals and plants normally use the instructions from thousands of genes in DNA to make important building blocks like proteins. These instructions are written out in a molecular “recipe” (also known as mRNA).</p><p>Like a cook adjusting a recipe for a meal, cells use RNAi to reduce the use of a specific mRNA so that just the right amount of a particular protein is made. RNAi is so specific that it can stop the production of a pigment gene so soybeans are yellow instead of black without affecting thousands of other important “recipes.”</p> [/ce_basic_banner_split]
We're just beginning to explore this technology.

Our researchers and others in the field have learned how to use biological signals to trigger RNAi for specific genes that can result in better disease and pest resistance, increased yields or improved quality. We believe it will expand choices available to farmers by offering a wide range of applications in the future.

[unex_ce_basic_content_centered layer-name="summary centered" id="content_5u9ui4aa8" post_id="3182" semplice_styles_background_color="transparent" semplice_styles_background_image="" semplice_styles_background_size="auto" semplice_styles_background_position="50% 0%" semplice_styles_background_repeat="no-repeat" semplice_styles_padding_top="64px" semplice_styles_padding_bottom="64px" semplice_styles_padding_left="0" semplice_styles_padding_right="0"] <h5><span style="color:#82b383;">We're just beginning to explore this technology.</span></h5><p>Our researchers and others in the field have learned how to use biological signals to trigger RNAi for specific genes that can result in better disease and pest resistance, increased yields or improved quality. We believe it will expand choices available to farmers by offering a wide range of applications in the future.</p> [/ce_basic_content_centered]

All Innovations

  • Unlocking Hidden Potential
    • Biotechnology & GMOs

      Introducing greater tolerance and adaptability to a seed product.

    • Plant Breeding

      Merging plant genetics for improved yield, water efficiency, and more.

  • Conceiving New Growing Tools
    • Agricultural Biologicals

      Using naturally-occurring microbes to benefit the soil and seed.

    • Crop Protection

      Guarding plants from disease, weeds, and pests.

    • Data Science

      Measuring the health of plants, available natural resources, and the efficiency of a farm.

  • Envisioning the Future of Farming
    • Research & Development

      Discovering innovative solutions to challenges big and small, helping farmers grow more sustainably.

    • Modern Agriculture

      Evolving the approach to agricultural innovations and farming practices that helps farmers increase efficiency