More Farmers Enabled to Succeed in Premium Soybean Market
San Diego, CA (December 10, 2024) – ZeaKal has entered into a collaboration with Meherrin AG, a multi-state agricultural input supplier, to advance the commercialization of its novel photosynthesis trait technology for soybean growers in the United States. ZeaKal’s PhotoSeed™ technology enhances crops’ ability to capture carbon and sunlight, leading to reduced carbon intensity (CI) scores and consistent increases in soybean oil and protein content without sacrificing yields or requiring additional inputs.
This collaboration represents another milestone in ZeaKal’s mission to harmonize the soybean supply chain through the company’s multi-stakeholder “NewType” agriculture model that connects plant genetics to the closed-loop soybean value chain. Launched in 2021, existing NewType model partners, including Gro Alliance and Perdue AgriBusiness, have joined forces to support growers by improving seed costs and creating high value local grain markets. The addition of Meherrin expands services available to growers in ZeaKal’s target regions.
“Meherrin is a vital partner that can provide growers with the agronomic support needed to maximize PhotoSeed’s full in-field potential. Now with Meherrin at the table, we can expand and provide even more tailored solutions tied to the needs of local growers,” said Han Chen, CEO and co-founder of ZeaKal.
Meherrin aims to distribute ZeaKal-branded SOYLEIC® high oleic soybean seeds to growers in time for the 2025 growing season, supported by their expert agronomic services. In 2026, growers will have the unique opportunity to grow PhotoSeed lines with enhanced photosynthetic capacity, higher nutritional density, and a lower carbon intensity score.
“At Meherrin, we’re committed to providing growers with innovative, value-added solutions to improve profitability,” said Jeff Middleton, district sales manager at Meherrin. “By partnering with ZeaKal, we will equip growers with a superior soybean product that delivers high protein and oil content, ensuring sustainability and profitability for the entire supply chain. We’re excited to bring a better bean to our growers.”
Soybeans play a critical role as global demand for sustainable food, feed, and fuel escalates. However, efforts to improve oil and protein while maintaining yield have historically been unsuccessful. PhotoSeed soybeans yield higher oil and protein content while reducing carbon intensity, creating added value for all supply chain partners.
For more information about joining the NewType Model, visit www.zeakal.com.
About ZeaKal
At ZeaKal, we are building a value driven “NewType” of agriculture to harmonize the needs of farmers, consumers, and our planet. Our flagship plant trait technology, PhotoSeed™, helps crops capture more carbon and sunlight, leading to healthier, nutrient-rich food and feed grown on a smaller environmental footprint. We go beyond science to make affordable nutrition more sustainable, with marketable differentiation for growers. Discover how we are transforming carbon to nutrition: zeakal.com or @zeakal on Twitter (X).
About Meherrin
Meherrin was founded as a family business in 1958, with farming roots dating back to 1917. Over the years, the business has been built into a strong and stable full-service agricultural input supplier. Meherrin began with peanut farming and today is a multi-crop input supplier providing inputs for corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, peanuts, forages and cover crops along the east coast from Florida to New York. In addition to being a full-service agricultural input supplier Meherrin also provides high quality peanuts, gourmet nuts, peanut butter, shelled and in-shell peanuts through its company Hampton Farms. Meherrin is a “Farm to Table” business with offices in Severn, North Carolina. Learn more about Meherrin at meherrinag.com
Media Contact
Jennifer Goldston
AgTech PR for ZeaKal
816-260-0040
[email protected]
