In a significant development for sustainable agriculture and renewable energy, ZeaKal has announced that its PhotoSeed™ technology has been validated as the first sustainability-embedded trait technology for agriculture. This groundbreaking innovation promises to transform soybean production and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) manufacturing, offering substantial environmental and economic benefits.
PhotoSeed technology enhances the photosynthetic capacity of soybeans, resulting in a 15% increase in oil production and a one-point increase in protein content without compromising yield or requiring additional inputs. This advancement is projected to expand the volume of SAF production by approximately one billion additional gallons on existing U.S. soybean acreage, marking a substantial contribution to renewable energy goals.
An independent analysis conducted by Foxley, LLC has revealed that PhotoSeed can reduce SAF carbon intensity (CI) scores by up to 4.6 points (grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per megajoule). This data is currently under review by SCS Global Services, a leader in sustainability standards and third-party certification, further validating the technology’s potential impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the aviation industry.
The implications of PhotoSeed technology extend beyond environmental benefits. With U.S. farmers seeking new ways to compete in the global commodity market, PhotoSeed soy offers a unique opportunity. The technology can effectively create an additional 13 million acres’ worth of oil production while simultaneously improving the protein content in the meal co-product used for animal feed. This dual advantage addresses both the growing demand for renewable fuels and the need for high-quality animal feed.
Han Chen, co-founder and CEO of ZeaKal, emphasized the technology’s potential to bridge the gap between renewable and petrochemical fuel production. ‘We can leverage plant genetics to capture carbon and expand the volume of global oil production without needing new land or infrastructure,’ Chen stated. This approach offers the energy industry economically feasible feedstocks with improved CI features for SAF and other renewable fuels production.
The timing of PhotoSeed’s validation aligns with recent bipartisan legislative efforts in the United States, including the Farm to Fly Act introduced in January 2024. These initiatives aim to accelerate SAF production and reduce emissions, with goals such as producing three billion gallons of SAF annually and reducing emissions by five percent by 2030. PhotoSeed technology is positioned to be a catalyst in achieving these objectives efficiently and cost-effectively.
ZeaKal has already established a harmonized supply chain for PhotoSeed soy, collaborating with key industry players such as Gro Alliance, Nutrien Ag Solutions, and Perdue AgriBusiness. This collaboration enables improved oil and protein production with enhanced sustainability features for the food and agriculture industry. The initial three-million-acre East Coast footprint presents an attractive source for low CI feedstock, with PhotoSeed soybeans set to be available for the 2026 growing season.
The potential impact of PhotoSeed extends beyond soybeans. ZeaKal forecasts that across its key crop programs, the global volume of SAF production could expand to 7.5 billion gallons per year. This projection underscores the technology’s potential to significantly contribute to global sustainability efforts and renewable energy production.
As the world grapples with the challenges of climate change and the need for sustainable agricultural practices, ZeaKal’s PhotoSeed technology represents a promising solution. By enhancing crop productivity, reducing carbon intensity, and supporting the production of sustainable aviation fuel, PhotoSeed is poise
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