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Vylor to strengthen Hyderabad research centre
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Wednesday, 16 September, 2026, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Our Bureau Bengaluru
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As US-based Corteva Agriscience's seed business prepares to list separately as Vylor Inc on October 1, the new entity will continue to invest about US$ 1 billion a year in seed R&D globally, with India's Hyderabad research centre to emerge as a future gene-editing hub for Asia.
Globally, Corteva currently spends around US$ 1.4 billion a year on R&D across seeds and crop protection. Of this, roughly US$ 1 billion is allocated to the seed business and about US$ 400 million to crop protection, said Robert Kaan, Head, APAC and Strategic Growth Initiatives, Corteva's seed business.
"After the separation, Vylor intends to maintain the US$ 1 billion annual R&D outlay for seeds, while crop protection will decide its own spending independently," he told the media.
The seed business will not suffer any cut in R&D spending and investment could, in fact, increase as the company grows. Vylor which will continue to sell seeds under the Pioneer brand in India, already operates a multi-crop research centre in Hyderabad. It is one of the most advanced R&D facilities outside the United States. The centre has capabilities in breeding, DNA analysis, haploid technology and related advanced tools.
India will remain a key manufacturing, research and export hub for the seeds business, with some exports to neighbouring countries, he added.
According to Kaan, Vylor is the second-largest holder of gene-editing patents globally after China, reflecting heavy investment in the technology. The company already licences gene-editing tools to partners such as ICRISAT, which is working on climate-resilient rice for Asia and Africa.In India, the near-term focus (for gene editing) is likely to be on crops such as rice, millet and mustard, targeting traits like heat tolerance, water-use efficiency and climate resilience.
He stressed that gene editing can be applied wherever specific traits are needed, but India's priorities will be shaped by local challenges such as heat, water stress and the need for shorter-duration varieties.
Kaan said the global regulatory environment is generally becoming more positive. Europe has moved towards a clearer framework, although some restrictions remain. Greater clarity in countries such as China and a more streamlined process in countries such as South Korea is the need of the hour.
The key issue is not only whether a country approves gene editing, but how quickly and predictably the regulatory system allows the technology to reach farmers, he noted.
"We hope India develops a fast, predictable and streamlined regulatory system. The government has identified higher farmer productivity as a priority, and faster access to technology can support that objective," he said.
The most important requirement is predictability. Companies should know what information is required and how long the approval process is likely to take, he added.
Shona Sabnis Vice President (Public Affairs), Corteva's seed business, said India has not yet commercialised gene-edited crops at scale, so we "have not encountered a major delay. We are confident that the government understands the importance of providing farmers with access to new technologies."
The Hyderabad centre's existing capabilities make it relatively straightforward to add new crops, such as wheat, to the research pipeline once suitable local germplasm is secured.
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