Agriculture & Horticulture

Biography

Biography: Andy Renz

Abstract

Benson Hill Biosystems, The Photosynthesis Company™ established a unique platform for the discovery and validation of approaches to increase photosynthetic efficiency and ultimately crop yield. Based on a deep knowledge of photosynthesis, state-of-the-art transcriptomics and proprietary computational biology databases and algorithms, candidate genes have been identified to improve the photosynthetic machinery of plants. We established unique model systems for crops with C3 and C4-photosynthesis for a fast and systematic validation of candidate genes in planta. Lead genes have been identified that when over-expressed under the control of developmentally regulated promoters lead to a significantly increased photosynthesis rate, plant growth, biomass production and seed yield in model plants. Promising lead genes have been transformed into several crops and their performance has been confirmed in field trials. We will present our discovery and validation platform and will discuss results from the over-expression of our most promising lead genes in model plants and crops. Benson Hill Biosystems already established commercial partnerships with market leaders: For potato we collaborate with Simplot for sugarcane in Brazil with Centro de Tecnologia Canavieira (CTC) for corn and wheat with Limagrain. We are actively seeking for new partnerships with seed companies in Asia that are interested to work with us in crops such as corn, rice, sugarcane, soybean, cotton and trees to increase crop yield through improved photosynthesis.