Today, ADAMA and S&W Seed Company announce their signed collaboration agreement on the development of a new herbicide-tolerant sorghum system for weed management. This novel solution, to be marketed as Double Team™, will consist of S&W’s non-GMO, herbicide-tolerant sorghum hybrids, and ADAMA’s best-in-class herbicides. The system is designed to improve weed control and grower profitability in sorghum significantly. ADAMA is one of the world’s leading crop protection companies, and S&W Seed Company (Nasdaq: SANW) is a global agricultural company with a leading position in sorghum through its Sorghum Partners® brand.
S&W will provide new herbicide-tolerant traits developed using its advanced research and technology platform and produce the high-performance seed. The agreement includes the Double Team ACCase tolerance traits and ACCase inhibitor herbicides. S&W developed the new Double Team ACCase tolerance trait in collaboration with the United Sorghum Checkoff program using traditional breeding non-GMO tissue culture.
ADAMA will supply a proprietary formulation technology in its best-in-class herbicides to deliver effective weed control. The herbicide, to be branded First Act™, has been tested and has proven to maintain high levels of crop safety while controlling a broad range of grass weeds and is easy to handle based on formulation efforts.
“Historically, sorghum has lagged behind other major crops like corn, soybeans, and cotton in the application of novel technologies,” said Dr. Don Panter, Executive V.P., S&W. “However, we look at sorghum as one of our key product lines and have prioritized our R&D efforts to bring this traditional breeding, non-GMO technology to U.S. sorghum growers in what we believe is record time. We plan to bring a broad spectrum of Double Team sorghum hybrids to the marketplace through our Sorghum Partners brand, and by offering top-tier seed companies licenses to the Double Team system. We are very pleased to have an experienced global partner like ADAMA developing weed control systems and supporting stewardship and grower education.”
Jake Brodsgaard, CEO of ADAMA USA, views this collaboration as perfectly aligned with the mission of ADAMA. “At ADAMA, we are driven by listening to growers and providing simple, straightforward solutions,” Brodsgaard said. “This collaboration between ADAMA and S&W will provide the first full-spectrum grass control option for sorghum growers. This new cropping solution is expected to simplify crop management by presenting sorghum growers with an effective and convenient weed management system to get the most from every production acre.”
Extensive field trials are planned for 2020 to verify further hybrid performance and crop selectivity. This round of field trials will help to fine-tune the use of the Double Team sorghum cropping solution herbicides in an overall weed control system. Regulatory trials are also underway to obtain global approval for the trait and herbicide to facilitate grain export.
Both companies intend to provide a complete weed stewardship management system fully supported by a team of sales and technical service representatives to make a positive impact on today’s growers and ensure long-term sustainability.
First Act herbicide has registration pending with the EPA and is not currently available for sale.
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About ADAMA
ADAMA Ltd. is one of the world’s leading crop protection companies. ADAMA strives to listen, learn and deliver farmers effective products and services that simplify their lives and help them grow. With one of the most comprehensive and diversified portfolios of differentiated, quality products, the company’s more than 7,000-strong team reaches growers in over 100 countries, providing them with solutions to control weeds, insects and disease, and improve their yields. For more information, please visit www.adama.com.
About S&W Seed Company
Founded in 1980, S&W Seed Company is a global agricultural company headquartered in Longmont, Colorado. S&W’s vision is to be the world’s preferred proprietary seed company which supplies a range of forage and specialty crop products and supports the growing global demand for animal proteins and healthier consumer diets. S&W is a global leader in proprietary alfalfa and sorghum seeds, with significant research and development, production and distribution capabilities. The company’s Sorghum Partners® brand provides high-quality sorghum seeds that are planted on millions of acres around the world. For more information, please visit www.swseedco.com and www.sorghumpartners.com.
S&W Seed Company Safe Harbor Statement
This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. “Forward-looking statements” describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as “may,” “future,” “plan” or “planned,” “will” or “should,” “expected,” “anticipates,” “draft,” “eventually” or “projected.” Forward-looking statements in this release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the anticipated benefits of Double Team™ sorghum hybrids, including improved weed control and sorghum yields, production in water-limited areas, and simplification of crop management; expected timing and results of field trials and regulatory approvals; expected commercial availability of Double Team sorghum hybrids; and statements regarding the advancement of our strategic plans. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that Double Team sorghum hybrids may not yield the expected results, our collaboration with ADAMA may not proceed as planned, the market for Double Team sorghum hybrids may never develop, demand for and production of sorghum in our target markets may decline, competitors may develop alternative and more effective sorghum hybrids, as well as risks associated with our ability to successfully optimize and commercialize our business. These and other risks are identified in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including without limitation our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019, and in our other filings subsequently made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of the receipt of new information, the occurrence of future events or otherwise.