BASF Agricultural Solutions has unveiled Nemasphere™, a groundbreaking nematode resistance trait for soybean cyst nematode (SCN) management, marking the most significant innovation in over 60 years. Nemasphere, the first biotechnology trait for SCN, targets the leading cause of soybean yield loss in the United States, which costs growers an estimated $1.5 billion annually.
Nemasphere features a novel mode of action through the production of Cry14 protein, which nematodes ingest, disrupting nutrient uptake and leading to their death. This transgenic trait, the first of its kind developed by BASF, will be stacked with Enlist E3® technology, offering top-performing soybean seed varieties with unmatched SCN resistance without compromising yield potential.
Scott Kay, Vice President of U.S. Agricultural Solutions at BASF, highlighted the company's commitment to innovation and providing impactful solutions for farmers. "Nemasphere offers a completely different level of protection and yield potential to soybean farmers, providing them with the solution they have been waiting for from SCN yield loss in an effective, reliable, and easy-to-use trait," said Kay.
BASF has conducted eight years of advanced field testing of Nemasphere in North America, including over 200 field trials in the United States. Results show an average yield boost of 8%. As SCN resistance to native traits continues to grow, Nemasphere's yield boost will be crucial for growers to reach their full harvest potential.
Nemasphere's single-locus trait allows breeders to incorporate it into a wide range of high-yielding seed varieties without compromising agronomic performance or access to the Enlist weed control system. This innovation addresses the long-standing need for a robust solution to protect soybean fields from SCN.
Pending regulatory approval, Nemasphere is expected to be available in 2028.
