Gene-edited soybeans thrive in UK trial as Corteva eyes home-grown protein future

Corteva's UK field trial of gene-edited soybeans demonstrated that targeted genetic modifications can dramatically accelerate the crop's maturity, allowing varieties traditionally suited to southern Europe to thrive in Britain's cooler climate. The trial, conducted in collaboration with INRAE, showed that editing just three flowering suppressor genes could shift soybeans by two to three maturity groups, with gene-edited plants visibly outpacing conventional varieties in development. This success suggests that commercial soybean production in the UK could become viable, reducing reliance on imports and benefiting from the country's supportive regulatory environment. The project highlights gene editing's potential to quickly adapt crops to new environments, though commercialisation in the UK remains a future goal.