Bayer CropScience has signed two new agreements extending its existing R&D partnership with U.S. plant sciences company Cellectis to introduce targeted modifications to selected plant genes and genomes.

The extended partnership is aimed at collaboratively creating commercial traits for the canola seed market using new technologies developed by Cellectis as well as providing the German partner Bayer with access to technologies that enable the directed engineering of plant genomes, such as gene stacking and targeted mutagenesis, for the development of improved crops.

The novel technologies work efficiently in plant cells and will be an important tool to improve crops as they facilitate the creation of specific modifications in the plant genome or genes and thus minimize the genetic footprint left behind, said Catherine Feuillet, head of trait research at Bayer CropScience.

"Following the technical success we have achieved with all our programs in potatoes and oil crops such as soybean and canola, the development of new commercial products relevant for the food industry has become the focus of our company," said "Cellectis CEO Luc Mathis, adding that the new agreements position the Minnesota-based company as a key partner for Bayer CropScience.