Re-located to Missouri from North Carolina in response to an important investment opportunity, Edison Agrosciences is an agricultural biotechnology company developing and commercializing innovative solutions for the production of plant-based industrial materials - specifically development of alternative rubber crops. The focus is on engineering yield improvements and the novel production of industrial materials in suitable plant systems. In an effort to diversify global rubber production, Edison Agrosciences is developing a sunflower rubber crop designed to provide the US with an alternative source for this strategically important commodity. Sunflower is a native rubber-producing plant that represents the most attractive candidate for the development of a broad acreage rubber crop in the US. It is an annual crop seen as especially attractive because of its short growing season, relatively low water requirements and tolerance to stresses induced by both high and low temperatures. While most commercial sunflower production is currently in northern states, it also will fit into empty rotations in southern areas. Sunflower production is highly mechanized, allowing for the production of large acreages with minimal labor costs. Agronomics for sunflower production have been refined over decades, allowing for large production areas in diverse environments.
