Gro Alliance location in Davis, CA features Seed-X AI-powered technology
From left to right, Jim Schweigert, president; Meck Slagle, vegetable seed improvement lead; and Khushi Chawda, market development intern, standing in front of the Seed-X machine at the new Davis location.
For more information, see the First Quarter issue of Seed Today.
Gro Alliance in December opened a vegetable seed improvement center in Davis, CA.
The Cuba City, WI-based company says the site is the only location in the Western Hemisphere to feature Seed-X’s AI-powered seed improvement technology. It combines world-class imaging and machine learning to sort seed to improve germination, purity, physical quality, and more.
AI Technology
At the core of the improvement center is the GeNee™ technology, powered by smart AI.
The company says this empowers clients to elevate the quality of their seed lots, minimize unsold inventory, optimize production, and ultimately boost sales and profitability.
“The future of seed improvement is now in Davis,” says Jim Schweigert, president of Gro Alliance. “And this is just step one. Our future work with Seed-X will see this technology achieve improved speed and capabilities which have the potential to completely change the definition and structure of a seed cleaning and sizing facility while greatly reducing lower quality seed.”
Meck Slagle, an industry veteran with experience at Gingko Bioworks and Bayer, has joined Gro Alliance as the vegetable seed improvement lead.
She’ll be the main point of contact for the Davis location and seed companies.
UC Davis student, Khushi Chawda, a 2024 National Association of Plant Breeders Borlaug Scholar, joined the team as a market development intern.