West Des Moines, Iowa, USA
May 11, 2010

Dramatic shifts in research and development (R&D) investments by major seed, biotechnology and crop protection companies over the past two decades have accelerated delivery of new plant science technology products to farmers, and rapid adoption of traits and stacked traits has already proven its impact on the industry. These findings are included in The Context Network’s 2010 edition of Plant Biotech Traits Commercialized (BTC 2010), an annual multi-client report focused on the commercial implications of traits, crops and technologies likely to be developed and introduced between now and 2020.

Context Senior Associate Tom Klevorn said, “BTC 2010, in its twelfth year of publication, is a powerful and unique source of information and analysis, capturing the early history of plant biotechnology, current trait commercialization product pipelines and future products and trends. We’re pleased to offer updated material and critical analyses annually and also to continue to build the report to reflect critical issues and developments important to the plant science industry. Beyond trait specific information, BTC 2010 analyzes the projected impact these technologies will have on the future of agriculture, technology providers and growers.”

Klevorn noted, “Over the next decade, we will see a significant increase in the number and type of novel trait introductions. It also appears likely that more companies will be involved in delivering these technologies. Many of these technologies have the potential to further expand the revolution in crop production from that already experienced in first generation traits in crops like soybeans, canola, cotton and corn to a multitude of other crops and areas of plant performance enhancement. The 2010 edition of BTC explores scenarios for specific crops and in a new addition to the report, offers an analysis of several possible future scenarios.”

This year, we have expanded the Crops and Trait Technologies section to include possible scenarios of the future, including critical “what if’s” that will accompany the introduction of these new biotech traits. A comprehensive research and development investment analysis also provides new perspectives on additional traits and technologies coming to market. Klevorn said, “We’ve entered an exciting period in which there is a great deal of very smart investment in agriculture occurring that will transform the industry in 2020. Key transformations, nutrient management functionality within the seed, water efficiency (drought tolerance) and yield enhancement molecules currently under discovery
will rapidly impact the industry as they come to market. Understanding what growers want and are willing to pay for will be critical to all stakeholders.”

The Context Network provides business management and strategy consulting services to the world’s leading agriculture, biotechnology and food companies and government agencies and institutions. Major areas of expertise include strategy, merger and acquisition support, valuation of new technologies, formation of alliances, and market research. The West Des Moines-based firm is composed of a core of professional consultants that is complemented by a network of hundreds of industry and subject-area experts.

Website: http://www.contextnet.com

Published: May 12, 2010