The Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council has signed an agreement to bring non-GMO high oleic soybean technology to growers in the state. Schillinger Genetics, Inc. (SGI) is now licensed to commercialize high oleic soybean traits and to breed soybean varieties that combine high oleic with low linolenic beans. The partnership is the first of its kind.

“We believe strongly in the potential of high oleic soybean oil,” said John Schillinger, president and founder of SGI. “SGI is investing in development of high oleic soybean varieties for US soybean producers, and our pipeline includes highly promising varieties of maturity groups 0 to V, and this partnership stands to expand that work.”

“Bringing new soybean varieties and trait technologies to growers is at the heart of our research program,” said John Kelley, chairman of the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council. “Partnerships are key to bringing growers the best return on their investments in the soy checkoff, and we’re proud to be taking this step forward in helping farmers improve their bottom line by adding value to commodity soybeans.”

Test plots throughout the Midwest are planned for 2017. The first seed will be available in 2018, marked with patent numbers 9,035,129 or 9,198,365, and the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council’s logo.