Dusseldorf The chemical and pharmaceutical group Bayer is expanding research into new crop protection products and is buying the Potsdam-based biotech company Targenomix. Bayer confirmed this to the Handelsblatt, but did not name a purchase price. The two companies have been cooperating for a long time.
With the takeover, Bayer is reacting to the growing resistance of plants to the drugs currently available. Farmers use them to protect their fields from severe weed infestation and the plants themselves from harmful insects and fungi.
However, as a result of intensive use over many decades, strong resistance to the chemicals has now developed. Targenomix is now to develop new active ingredients under the Bayer umbrella that eliminate this resistance in the plants and can be used in a more targeted manner.
Artificial intelligence helps develop the ‘next glyphosate’
Targenomix is a spin-off from the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology in Potsdam. The now 30 researchers at the start-up use artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze the complex metabolism of plants in detail. Based on the data and computer models, they determine new ways of attacking weed killers or insecticides.
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“We want to develop the next generation of new crop protection molecules that are highly effective, but also have a strong safety profile and meet sustainability expectations,” said Rachel Rama, who leads molecular research at Bayer’s Crop Science agricultural division. Without such funds, agriculture would not be able to get by and would not be able to guarantee the supply of sufficient food.
The biotech startup will belong to Bayer in the future.
(Photo: Targenomix)
Innovative strength is required for such modern active ingredients. The agrochemical companies have been missing this for decades, especially when it comes to herbicides, i.e. weed killers. The reason is an unrivaled, highly effective agent: glyphosate. The weed killer is used on a large scale in agriculture.
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However, glyphosate is increasingly the subject of public criticism, and a new approval of the agent in the EU is currently open. In addition to possible health-damaging properties, the accusation that the mass use of glyphosate leads to the loss of biodiversity is also at stake. At the same time, the active ingredient encounters increasing resistance in weeds.
The new active ingredient has been found, but approval will take a few more years
Together with Bayer, Targenomix has already found a new active ingredient for weed control. According to the companies, this is the discovery of the industry’s first all-new herbicide in arable farming in 30 years. Targenomix CEO Sebastian Klie explains: “We are currently in research phase 3 of the development, the product could be on the market towards the end of this decade”.
However, the agent is not initially being developed as a complete replacement, but as a supplement to glyphosate against resistant plants. The market launch will take so long because the approval process for crop protection products is complex – also with regard to their safety.
Targenomix wants to be able to show the safety profile of the new molecules at an early stage with the help of its AI-supported computer models. The company should remain largely independent within Bayer in order to maintain the start-up character, as the group explains. In the future, however, the capital for further development will come largely from the Leverkusen coffers.
More: Despite record profits: Three reasons why Bayer is currently losing value on the stock exchange