The consumer industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity is driven by convenience, environmental sustainability, and aesthetics, and the growing importance of food safety and transparency, personalized nutrition, and digital food management technologies. In the last three years alone, there have been over 52,000 patents filed and granted in the consumer industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Environmental sustainability in consumer: genetic engineered cereal crops. Buy the report here.

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According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which uses over 12,000 patents to analyze innovation intensity for the consumer industry, there are 30+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.

Genetic engineered cereal crops is a key innovation area in environmental sustainability

Genetic engineered cereal crops refer to crops that have been modified at the genetic level using biotechnology techniques to enhance specific traits or characteristics. These modifications can include improved nutritional content, increased resistance to pests or diseases, tolerance to environmental stresses, and enhanced yield potential. Genetic engineering allows scientists to introduce desired genes into the crop’s genome, resulting in the expression of new traits that can benefit farmers, consumers, and the environment.

GlobalData’s analysis also uncovers the companies at the forefront of each innovation area and assesses the potential reach and impact of their patenting activity across different applications and geographies.  According to GlobalData, there are 35+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established consumer companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of genetic engineered cereal crops.

Key players in genetic engineered cereal crops – a disruptive innovation in the consumer industry

‘Application diversity’ measures the number of applications identified for each patent. It broadly splits companies into either ‘niche’ or ‘diversified’ innovators.

‘Geographic reach’ refers to the number of countries each patent is registered in. It reflects the breadth of geographic application intended, ranging from ‘global’ to ‘local’.

Patent volumes related to genetic engineered cereal crops

Company Total patents (2021 - 2023) Premium intelligence on the world's largest companies
Bayer 1263 Unlock Company Profile
Stine Seed Farm 585 Unlock Company Profile
China National Chemical 93 Unlock Company Profile
Corteva 84 Unlock Company Profile
Altria Group 75 Unlock Company Profile
Japan Tobacco 68 Unlock Company Profile
British American Tobacco 59 Unlock Company Profile
M.S. Technologies 54 Unlock Company Profile
Philip Morris International 23 Unlock Company Profile
Mertec 17 Unlock Company Profile
22nd Century Group 10 Unlock Company Profile
Kaiima 10 Unlock Company Profile
Vilmorin & Cie 9 Unlock Company Profile
Government of South Korea 8 Unlock Company Profile
Schillinger Genetics 8 Unlock Company Profile
Benson Hill Biosystems 7 Unlock Company Profile
Cellectis 6 Unlock Company Profile
Rijk Zwaan Zaadteelt en Zaadhandel 5 Unlock Company Profile
Ingredion 5 Unlock Company Profile
BASF 4 Unlock Company Profile
KWS SAAT 3 Unlock Company Profile
Furukawa 2 Unlock Company Profile
Growmark 2 Unlock Company Profile
Amorepacific Group 2 Unlock Company Profile
Ministry of Agriculture Brazil 2 Unlock Company Profile
Monsanto 1 Unlock Company Profile
Pulmuone 1 Unlock Company Profile
Suntava 1 Unlock Company Profile
Kraft Heinz 1 Unlock Company Profile
QTI 1 Unlock Company Profile
Wells Fargo 1 Unlock Company Profile

Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics

Bayer is one of the leading patent filers in dairy genetic engineered cereal crops. Some other key patent filers in the space include Stine Seed Farm, Altria Group, and Corteva. The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has granted safety clearance to Bayer's genetically engineered corn. This modified corn, called the Smart Corn System, features shorter-stature plants that are 30% smaller but maintain equivalent yields.

In terms of application diversity, Bayer leads the pack, with Cellectis and Kraft Heinz in the second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, Corteva holds the top position, followed by Stine Seed Farm and Pulmuone.

The food industry will increasingly adopt genetic engineered cereal crops. One of the main goals of genetically engineered crops is to enhance yield and improve quality. If researchers and biotechnologists develop genetically engineered cereal varieties that significantly outperform traditional varieties in terms of yield, nutritional content, disease resistance, and other desirable traits, they could become more popular among farmers and consumers.

To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the consumer industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) in Consumer Goods.

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GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.

GlobalData’s Patent Analytics tracks patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.