Origin Agritech announces the development of new corn traits

Origin Agritech Ltd., an agriculture technology company, announced that it has developed several new corn traits, including drought resistance and southern rust resistance.

The Biotechnology Center of Beijing Origin Seed Industry, Co., Ltd. (Origin Agritech's subsidiary) developed the new traits using the company's cutting-edge technology. Origin's industry leading germoplasms, which were developed over the last 20 years, played a vital role in the creation of the new corn crops as the plants provide all the other unmodified traits necessary for a thriving corn plant.

Southern corn rust and drought are both very detrimental to corn crops. It is estimated that southern corn rust may result in a yield loss of 45% (link). Drought can cause yields to drop by 30% or more (link). The recent news out of China (link) that drought had affected 475,333 hectares of arable land accentuates the need for drought tolerant corn crops in China.

"With climate change leading to prolonged periods of drought throughout the world, drought resistant crops become ever more important," said Dr. Gengchen Han, Origin's Chairman. "I am proud of the speed and efficiencies with which our team developed these new traits as it demonstrates how responsive we can be to the developing needs of farmers."