FMC Corporation (NYSE: FMC), a leading agricultural sciences company, and Zymergen, a science and material innovation company focused on rethinking biology, today announced a new collaboration focused on creating breakthrough crop protection solutions. FMC and Zymergen will develop a new, and faster, natural products discovery process that leads to the development of novel crop protection solutions for growers around the world. Leveraging Zymergen's vast molecular library—the largest metagenomic database in the world—and deep expertise in synthetic biology, FMC will help dramatically improve the rate of success in developing innovative crop protection products.
"We look forward to working together with Zymergen to identify new molecules in ways we have not been able to in the past. FMC has an established and effective molecule discovery process that begins with chemistry. Together, we have an unparalleled advantage to quickly learn from nature and accelerate our product pipeline to address customers' needs with precision," said Dr. Kathleen Shelton, vice president and chief technology officer of FMC. "We're proud to work collaboratively with leading companies like Zymergen as we enter a new era of innovation, building upon the ingenuity that has long existed in our R&D pipeline."
Changing consumer sentiment and increased regulatory scrutiny have created opportunities to use technology in driving sustainability. This collaboration will enhance both FMC and Zymergen's investments in sustainable innovations that address rising food needs for a growing global population.
FMC and Zymergen will target biochemical processes specific to known pests and scale the production process for viable natural product gene clusters. Harnessing Zymergen's proprietary library of over one million gene clusters—by far the largest of its kind—as well as the company's industry-leading fermentation capabilities and bioinformatics experience, FMC will provide criteria that reflect growers' most important needs for novel modes of action to manage resistance. These selection criteria will inform Zymergen's computational models and, in turn, speed discovery of higher-performing crop protection solutions based on nature.
"Zymergen's expertise in synthetic biology, automation, and machine learning will complement FMC's deep understanding of agriculture," said Zach Serber, chief science officer and co-founder, Zymergen. "By partnering with nature to discover and produce molecules, we can create breakthrough solutions which address critical industry problems. Together, our goal is to convert the complexity of nature to create useful products that allow growers to better control pests and diseases."
This collaboration builds on Zymergen's product portfolio across applications, including agriculture, electronics and personal care. Zymergen is already working with industry leaders across a range of product areas to deliver innovations that help the grower, with a focus on crop nutrition and protection. FMC is building an ecosystem of partners to accelerate the speed of innovation to address agriculture's most pressing challenges. FMC's R&D team of more than 800 scientists and associates are guiding one of the most robust discovery and development pipelines in the agricultural industry, including the first novel herbicide mode of action in over 30 years.
About FMC
FMC Corporation, an agricultural sciences company, provides innovative solutions to growers around the world with a robust product portfolio fueled by a market-driven discovery and development pipeline in crop protection, plant health, and professional pest and turf management. This powerful combination of advanced technologies includes leading insect control products based on Rynaxypyr® and Cyazypyr® active ingredients; Authority®, Boral®, Centium®, Command® and Gamit® branded herbicides; Talstar® and Hero® branded insecticides; and flutriafol-based fungicides. The FMC portfolio also includes biologicals such as Quartzo® and Presence® bionematicides. FMC Corporation employs approximately 6,400 employees around the globe. To learn more, please visit www.fmc.com.
FMC, the FMC logo, Rynaxypyr, Cyazypyr, Authority, Boral, Centium, Command, Gamit, Talstar, Hero, Quartzo and Presence are trademarks of FMC Corporation or an affiliate. Always read and follow all label directions, restrictions and precautions for use. Products listed here may not be registered for sale or use in all states, countries or jurisdictions. Hero® insecticide is a restricted use pesticide in the United States.
The Company's investor relations website, located at https://investors.fmc.com, should be considered as a recognized channel of distribution, and the Company may periodically post important information to the web site for investors, including information that the Company may wish to disclose publicly for purposes of complying with the federal securities laws. After April 27, 2021, this type of information will no longer be regularly provided by press release but will continue to be posted on the investor relations website.
About Zymergen
Zymergen is a science and material innovation company rethinking biology and reimagining the world. A World Economic Forum Tech Pioneer, Zymergen partners with nature to create never-before imagined materials and products across industries – from agriculture to electronics, consumer care to pharmaceuticals, and more. The company creates sustainable materials that are in use today, delivering value for Fortune 1000 companies with over $1 billion worth of products using Zymergen microbial innovations sold to date. At Zymergen, we make tomorrow. www.zymergen.com
