Startup is white corn that does not contain orange-yellow carotenoid pigments, making it ideal for dietary and therapeutic use. This variety is hypoallergenic and suitable for children over one year old and elderly people. One of the main problems with white corn is the risk of cross-pollination with yellow varieties, which results in mottled, marble-like kernels on the same ear. However, thanks to the efforts of the startup company "Mnagor," founded by graduates of Vinnytsia National Agrarian University, a super-sweet white corn variety called "White Rabbit" with sugar content exceeding 20% has been created, solving this issue.
In addition, biotechnological startups are actively developing in the modern agricultural sector, focusing on innovative solutions for growing cereal crops, including corn. For example, the German conglomerate Bayer, in collaboration with the Boston-based startup Ginkgo Bioworks, founded at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, created a company dedicated to developing genetically modified plants capable of producing nitrogen fertilizers independently. This significantly reduces the use of chemical fertilizers, minimizes environmental harm, and enhances the sustainability of agriculture.
The Ginkgo Bioworks project includes a team of approximately 50 specialists who work on modifying the genomes of microorganisms living in plants — so-called plant microbiomes. Jason Kelly, the company's CEO, is on the board of directors of the new enterprise, which operates in Boston and West Sacramento, where Bayer's test centers are located. This innovation could significantly impact the global fertilizer market, valued at $80 billion, and contribute to the development of eco-friendly agriculture.
