Plants have long been used for the benefit of humans – useful plants and plant-derived products touch every aspect of our lives. The recent spike in energy prices and our growing awareness of the need to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions have resulted in a renewed interest in plants that can be grown for fuel or biomass production. Modern advances in genome sequencing, plant genetics, transgenesis and cultivation of plant-associated microbes are allowing rapid improvements to be made in crops that have seen little enhancement in the past. Using these methods, SGI is developing high-yielding, more disease resistant and economic plant feedstocks that are supplemented with efficient and environmentally friendly microbes to replace chemical fertilizers and confer disease and stress resistance.

To learn more about the agricultural programs, please click here. SGI and Plenus SA de CV announced the formation of the agricultural biotechnology company, Agradis in October 2011.