2Blades and Bayer extend partnership to strengthen Soybean Rust resistance

Bayer and 2Blades have announced an extended partnership to combat Soybean Rust, a highly destructive disease threatening global soybean production. This initiative builds on their collaboration, which began in 2018 and was extended in 2021, leading to key advancements in targeted disease control strategies. The original project concluded successfully in 2024, enabling Bayer to integrate new disease-resistant solutions into its research and development pipeline.

Soybean Rust, caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi, can lead to devastating crop losses, with yield reductions reaching up to 90% within three weeks without frequent fungicide applications. The disease is particularly problematic in Brazil, where year-round outbreaks contribute to annual mitigation costs exceeding $2 billion USD.

“Soybean Rust continues to be one of the most significant threats to soybean production globally,” said Ty Vaughn, Head of Plant Biotechnology for Bayer’s Crop Science division. “The successful work that we’ve accomplished with 2Blades will allow us to bring solutions to farms more quickly. With the extension of our partnership, we will now focus on providing farmers with more tools to protect their crops and meet the increasing global demand for soybeans.”

The partnership will leverage 2Blades’ NLRseek platform, a proprietary technology designed to identify novel resistance genes that offer durable protection against Soybean Rust. This approach focuses on Nucleotide-binding Leucine-rich Repeat (NLR) proteins, which detect pathogen effector proteins and activate immune responses in plants. By integrating multiple NLR receptors, crops can achieve long-lasting resistance, reducing dependence on chemical fungicides.

“Soybean remains a vital crop due to its climate resilience, high protein and oil content, and its ability to improve soil nitrogen,” said Dr. Kamil Witek, Group Leader at 2Blades. “By combining 2Blades’ expertise in mitigating pre-harvest crop losses with Bayer’s leadership in soybean seed development, this collaboration is positioned to deliver effective genetic resilience for soybean crops, strengthening global production.”

As global demand for soybeans continues to rise, Bayer and 2Blades aim to provide farmers with more sustainable and effective disease management solutions. Their ongoing research and innovation in genetic resistance offer promising prospects for enhancing soybean yields and reducing economic losses caused by Soybean Rust.