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Bayer and Kebotix, a technology platform company, have formed a new collaboration. Kebotix, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, uses artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and robotics to accelerate the discovery of new chemicals. Those discoveries will be used in the collaboration by researchers within Bayer’s Crop Science R&D program to advance new crop protection solutions.
Today’s partnership announcement comes at a time when farmers worldwide are losing as much as 50% of their crops when fields are left unprotected against weeds, insects, and diseases.
“Early phase projects often have unexplored chemistry which requires a lot of time to find its best or most effective use,” said Jill S. Becker, Kebotix CEO and founder, in a news release. “Our AI tools not only optimize chemical reactions, but discover paths to higher yields, positively affecting the bottom line in direct and multiple ways.”
Bayer scientists consistently challenge themselves to discover new generations of crop protection substances that meet the expectations of farmers and society, say Bayer officials. The accelerated synthesis, through work with Kebotix, will allow them to gain speed and precision via Kebotix’s innovative technology and harness the immense potential of AI, they add.
“AI-augmented automated infrastructures have the potential to provide us with a totally new scale of support to unlock challenging chemistries,” said David Bernier, Science Fellow, Bayer Crop Science, R&D disease control chemistry, in a news release. “We believe this support will enable our chemists to deliver faster innovative solutions to serve agriculture. The visionary team at Kebotix supports us in turning this aspiration into a reality. We feel confident having them on our side along this journey.”
Kebotix scientists will join other industry leaders to discuss Bayer’s open innovation strategy and the importance of recent collaborations with innovative startups at AgConnect – April 21 – AI Meets Agricultural Research.
The free virtual discussion will focus on how AI is working to bring affordable, high-quality, and safe innovative products faster to the farm for the benefit of growers everywhere, say company officials.