BASF is known as a chemistry company, but it is also one of only six U.S. companies actively breeding soybeans and one of four in the trait business. Marc Hoobler is the company’s agronomy lead for soybeans and canola and participated in the BASF Showcase Plot Tour near Davenport, North Dakota. The Xitavo brand is only in its third year. “What’s exciting is not only the germplasm that is coming with Xitavo, but also the trait packages that we’ll be able to put together,” said Hoobler. “We’re going to have a novel GMO trait for soybean cyst nematode which is the number one pest for soybeans in the U.S. and when you stack other traits behind that, like PPO tolerance, it is very exciting.” Hoobler says the soybean cyst nematode trait will be a game-changer and will be on the market in late 2028 or 2029.
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