BEIJING, CHINA — Origin Agritech Ltd., a Chinese agricultural technology company, has integrated a gene from wild corn into one of its longtime commercial corn hybrids, a scientific milestone that the company said sets a new benchmark for crop yield performance and efficiency.
Origin Agritech said the integration of the wild corn gene marks the world’s first instance of using genetics from wild corn, a type of grass, to enhance the performance of commercial corn hybrids. This genetic modification has improved plant type and photosynthesis efficiency, enabling the hybrid to achieve higher yields by supporting increased plant density per acre.
One of Origin Agritech’s mainstay commercial corn hybrids, which has been on the market for over 20 years, has been the focus of this enhancement. The improved version of this hybrid can now be planted at a 10% to 15% higher density, offering a potential yield increase of more than 10%, according to the company. This advancement is expected to drive the new hybrid to replace the current version within two years.
“This breakthrough is a testament to Origin Agritech’s commitment to innovation and our continuous efforts to push the boundaries of agricultural technology,” said Dr. Gengchen Han, chairman and chief executive officer of Origin Agritech. “By harnessing the untapped potential of wild corn genes, we have significantly improved our hybrid’s performance, setting a new standard for efficiency and yield in the industry. This is a proud moment for our team and a major step forward in our mission to provide sustainable and high-performing agricultural solutions to the world.”
