Dow AgroSciences and Radiant Genomics have agreed to expand their research agreement to include additional natural product targets for discovery research in both crop protection and traits. The original agreement was signed in mid-2015.

The new relationship broadens the application of Radiant Genomics’ proprietary processes across Dow AgroSciences’ research organization while enabling Radiant Genomics to expand its platform technologies.

Daniel Kittle, vice president of research and development at Dow AgroSciences, said the extension was an important next step in leveraging both partners’ collective expertise in natural products. “I’m confident our work will translate into new sustainable solutions to address the expanding need for food production across the planet,” he added.

The collaboration combines the metagenomic and bio-engineering technologies from Radiant Genomics with Dow AgroSciences’ natural products discovery and development capabilities to deliver new products from naturally derived chemistries.

Radiant Genomics said its technology platform could access the 99% of natural diversity that is currently inaccessible to scientists using traditional approaches.

As yet, the impact on the AgroSciences business from Dow Chemical’s merger with DuPont is unclear. However, Dow Chemical CEO Andrew Liveris has previously stated that Dow’s agrochemicals business would become the future DuPont.