PhotoSeed Technology Validated

For more information, see the Fourth Quarter issue of Seed Today.

ZeaKal in October announced that PhotoSeed™ has been validated as the first sustainability-embedded trait technology for agriculture.

The company says PhotoSeed enhances photosynthetic capacity, increasing soybean oil by 15% and protein by one point without compromising yield or requiring additional inputs.

The technology is projected to expand the volume of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production by approximately one billion additional gallons on existing U.S. soybean acreage.

Foxley, LLC conducted an independent analysis of PhotoSeed’s impact on the carbon intensity (CI) score of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from soybean oil according to multiple global standards and programs. The data is also being reviewed by SCS Global Services, a leader in the field of sustainability standards and third-party certification.

The modelling shows that PhotoSeed can reduce SAF CI scores by up to 4.6 points (grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per megajoule).

Potential markets. This comes as U.S. farmers seek new ways to compete in the global commodity market.

“At a time when the cost and scale for renewable fuels production still falls short of petrochemicals, we can leverage plant genetics to capture carbon and expand the volume of global oil production without needing new land or infrastructure,” says Han Chen, co-founder and CEO of ZeaKal. “ZeaKal’s genetics and agricultural partnerships offer the energy industry economically feasible feedstocks with improved CI features in the production of SAF and other renewable fuels.”

Over the past several years, ZeaKal has built a harmonized supply chain for PhotoSeed soy, which includes Gro Alliance, Nutrien Ag Solutions, and Perdue AgriBusiness.

The collaboration enables improved oil and protein production with improved sustainability features for the food and agriculture industry. With growing demand from energy, the initial three-million-acre East Coast footprint is an attractive source for low CI feedstock.

PhotoSeed soybeans will be available for the 2026 growing season.

PhotoSeed’s verification as a technology pathway for reducing CI also opens opportunities across the company’s other crop programs.

For ZeaKal’s key crop programs, the company forecasts that the global volume of SAF production could expand to 7.5 billion gallons per year.

Expanded Gro Alliance Partnership

ZeaKal also in October announced the expansion of its Gro Alliance partnership and marketing support network, bolstering its operational capacity as the company expands its plant trait technology portfolio and broadens the commercialization and adoption of PhotoSeed.

Under the expanded partnership, Gro Alliance will work directly on behalf of ZeaKal and utilize its extensive seed industry networks to drive the adoption of ZeaKal’s soybean and corn offerings.

Tapping into Gro Alliance’s network will give ZeaKal immediate access to seed companies, crop protection organizations, and logistical support entities to grow PhotoSeed soy on as many acres as possible.

This expanded partnership marks a significant step forward in ZeaKal’s mission to build a resilient, value-driven seed and grain supply chain in the United States and beyond.

“Farmers and seed companies want options that help them decouple their future from global commodity price pressures and constantly rising input costs,” says Jim Schweigert, president of Gro Alliance. “We support ZeaKal’s effort to put the farmer at the center of the value-creation equation. I personally believe that the future of value-added agriculture is bright and could not be more excited to plan this crucial role in building the seed and grain supply chain to make it a reality.”

Marketing Services

Additionally, ZeaKal has engaged Alhelpyou Inc. (“Alhelpyou”) to provide digital marketing services and lead its marketing strategy.

Alhelpyou is a digital marketing firm with specialized technical and creative expertise spanning multiple industries ranging from cannabis to e-commerce.

“Alhelpyou’s experience with complementary industries and multi-disciplinary approach to marketing is an ideal fit for ZeaKal,” says Chen.