GERMANY – Bayer and Ginkgo Bioworks have completed the previously disclosed partnership, launching a multi-year strategic alliance to advance the study and creation of biological products for use in agriculture.
The deal involves the sale of Bayer’s internal discovery and lead optimization platform as well as its West Sacramento Biologics Research & Development facility.
The Biologics company, which is a part of Bayer’s Crop Science Division, will be able to further engage the open innovation ecosystem and expand upon its leadership position as the go-to partner for innovators and scientists all over the world with the closing of this deal.
The breakthrough nitrogen fixation platform developed by Joyn Bio, a joint venture between Bayer and Ginkgo Bioworks, will continue to advance thanks to the integration of Joyn Bio into Ginkgo Bioworks.
In accordance with the terms of the agreement, Bayer is still entitled to commercialize the technology to support the use of synthetic fertilizers in the upcoming years.
Bayer has become the first major partner of Ginkgo Bioworks’ expanded agricultural biologicals platform.
The two companies have formed a new partnership that will concentrate on significant projects in the fields of crop protection, nitrogen fixation, and carbon sequestration in order to find the most promising next-generation biologicals for growers.
“Biological solutions play a critical role in the agricultural innovation ecosystem, and we see tremendous opportunity for these products to add even more value for agriculture in the future.
“The open innovation approach will accelerate the product pipeline and will make sure that we bring high-quality biological solutions and innovative technologies to the market faster,” said Dr. Robert Reiter, Head of R&D at Bayer’s Crop Science Division.
American biotech startup Ginkgo Bioworks was established in 2009 by MIT researchers and specializes in creating industrially useful microbes through genetic engineering.
The company aims to develop and advance agricultural microbial solutions across crops and geographies through broad, fully-enabled technical platforms that address diverse market needs.
It will work independently with different partners in the discovery of microbial derived products for agriculture.
“Ginkgo is committed to harnessing the power of programmable biology to enable sustainable food production and food security worldwide.
“We look forward to partnering with Bayer and other innovative companies, and to bringing more applications on to Ginkgo’s expanded agricultural biologicals platform so that growers worldwide can develop breakthrough products,” said Jason Kelly, CEO and co-founder of Ginkgo Bioworks.
The Bayer Biologics company has built up the deep experience required to collaborate with innovators across the entire spectrum of biological innovation via years of successful R&D partnerships and collaborations with industry leaders like Novozymes and AlphaBio Control.
The two companies have formed a new partnership that will concentrate on significant projects in the fields of crop protection, nitrogen fixation, and carbon sequestration in order to find the most promising next-generation biologicals for growers.
By creating new avenues for scientific collaboration, Bayer will be better able to use its biologicals knowledge to create and distribute more creative, climate-smart, and sustainable agriculture solutions to growers all over the world.
Bayer AG is a German multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company and one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world.
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