Syngenta unveils microRNA crop technology it calls a biological first in 20 years

Syngenta on Tuesday unveiled EXORT technology, a new biological platform that uses naturally occurring plant microRNAs to help crops increase yields by optimizing their own internal resources — what the company calls a first new mode of action in biologicals in 20 years.syngenta+1

The technology, whose name stands for EXOgenous RNA Targeting, is designed to identify, extract, and deliver plant-derived microRNAs that regulate biological processes including grain growth, fruit set, and development. Applied at very small doses to the leaf, EXORT works with signals plants already use to regulate their biology, without introducing foreign genetic material.agnavigator+2

How It Works

MicroRNAs are tiny molecules found in all plants that act as regulators of biological instructions. EXORT selects specific naturally occurring microRNAs and applies them at field scale, helping crops make better use of their own resources. According to Syngenta, yield improvements compared with untreated crops ranged from 5% to 10% in what the company described as one of the largest biological field programs of its kind, spanning rice, soybean, corn, cotton, vegetables, and fruits across multiple years and geographies.agrospectrumindia+2

Camilla Corsi, Syngenta's Head of Crop Protection Research and Development, said: "What makes EXORT technology so exciting is that it translates a fundamental biological mechanism into a practical agricultural solution. Advances in genomics, bioinformatics and plant science now allow us to identify and apply beneficial natural microRNAs with unprecedented precision."syngenta+1

Path to Market

The science builds on the field of microRNA research recognized by the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Syngenta plans to launch the first EXORT-based products starting in 2027, followed by a phased rollout across approximately 20 countries and multiple crops.agrospectrumindia+2

The announcement comes as farmers face mounting pressure to produce more food from the same land while reducing agriculture's environmental footprint. Syngenta said it believes EXORT has the potential to become a foundational platform for the next generation of biological crop solutions.syngenta