Computomics Podcast - In Conversation

Glendon Ascough, Research Director at Starke Ayres, discusses the evolution of the company from a historic seed merchant to Africa’s largest independent vegetable breeding company. He shares his personal journey into plant science, driven by a fascination with genetics, and highlights the company’s focus on breeding disease-resistant vegetable varieties tailored to local and international markets. He talks about the collaboration with Computomics, using machine learning to predict sweet corn hybrid performance. Glendon emphasizes the importance of high-quality, diverse phenotypic data and the shift in breeder mindset required for data-driven approaches.

This episode features Dr. Michael Kotutwa Johnson, a Hopi dryland farmer from Arizona’s Colorado Plateau. He shares how his community has grown crops for 3,000 years on just 6-10 inches of annual rain without irrigation. Using deep planting, wide spacing, clumped seeds, and reading native vegetation, Indigenous farming conserves moisture and maintains biodiversity. It yields nutrient-rich crops without chemicals, protects soil, and integrates spiritual traditions. Climate change impacts - shorter summers, longer winters, less precipitation - are addressed by adapting planting practices and trusting in seed adaptation through continual cultivation. Michael advocates for growing seeds annually to keep them climate-resilient, and for revitalizing Indigenous food systems to combat health crises like diabetes. Beyond yields, the Hopi system offers values of stewardship, sharing, and hope, which he believes can inspire global agricultural approaches.

More:

• "Dr. Hopi Farmer" on Instagram
• Michael K. Johnson on LinkedIn
• Indigenous Resilience Center
• Indigenous Landscapes: An example from Hopi (Lecture)

In this Computomics podcast episode, Computomics Chief Commercial Officer Juan Manuel Montes shares insights into his passion for learning and his recent experience at the International Seed Federation conference in Istanbul. He discusses industry challenges like climate change and consumer demands, highlighting how Computomics supports plant breeders with technologies like xSeedScore and Pantograph. These tools accelerate variety development and genomic analysis. Juan emphasizes the company’s customer-centric approach, tailoring solutions for clients of all sizes through strategic collaboration. The episode wraps up the current season, with new content returning in September.

Our guest in this episode is Keren Moshelion, CEO and co-founder of Plant-Ditech. Karen shares insights into the company’s advanced plant phenotyping platform. The system simulates stress conditions like drought, salinity, and nutrient variability, measuring plant responses with high-resolution sensors up to 500 times a day. These real-time measurements help researchers rapidly assess plant productivity, growth, and water use efficiency. It enables them to customize treatments per plant and analyze physiological traits linked to yield. Designed for greenhouses and growth chambers, the platform significantly accelerates agtech R[&]D, with customers reporting time savings of up to two years. The company's clients use the system for both academic and commercial research.

Our guest in this episode is Kinneret Shefer, co-founder and CEO of AgTech startup GeneNeer. Kinneret shares the founding of GeneNeer, driven by her shift from pure RNA research to market-driven innovation. GeneNeer aims to revolutionize crop breeding by drastically shortening trait development time using fast, tissue culture-based gene editing platforms. Kinneret compares her vision for GeneNeer to Pfizer's rapid vaccine development during COVID-19, enabling fast responses to agricultural challenges like drought or new pests. GeneNeer's "super line" platform allows rapid, iterative trait development with backup options, while their AI-supported platform enables precise, tissue- and time-specific gene editing without introducing foreign DNA. GeneNeer's business model includes custom collaborations and independent product development.

More:

• GeneNeer
• Kinneret Shefer on LinkedIn

In this episode of our podcast Amrit Nanda, Executive Manager of Plants for the Future ETP, discusses the importance of plant breeding, public-private collaboration, and science-based policymaking in the EU. She highlights the platform’s mission to connect academia, industry, and policymakers, and to improve science communication through initiatives like “Plantastic Discoveries.” A recent study on 20 years of EU research funding revealed limited growth for plant breeding despite strong overall program growth. Amrit stresses the need for long-term funding models, more support for Eastern Europe, and the potential of gene editing and AI.

Our new episode explores science communication with Tamara Worzewski, focusing on overcoming "plant blindness" and engaging the public with plant-related topics. Tamara highlights the importance of storytelling in making science accessible and building trust between scientists and the public. Topics range from Arctic ecosystems to public outreach strategies, emphasizing creative ways to connect people with plants and nature. Titles like “Plants, Stories, and Science” and “Breaking Plant Blindness” reflect this blend of narrative and education. The conversation inspires innovative approaches to connecting people with science.

More:

• The term-defining publication on “Plant Blindness”
• Plant Science Café, Sofa Events, and more
• "Best of" movies by Blattgeflüster
• Blattgeflüster website
• Blattgeflüster on Instagram
• Tamara’s freelancer website

In this episode, John McKay, Chief Scientific Officer at New West Genetics and professor at Colorado State University, discusses his research on local adaptation, genotype-by-environment interactions, and heterosis. His work spans crops like maize, rice, and hemp, applying evolutionary genetics to improve breeding strategies. John's projects aim to enhance crop efficiency and sustainability.

More information:

New West Genetics hybrid hemp
Genetic basis of plant root growth traits and their response to environment (current NSF grant)
National Science Foundation
Conditional neutrality in Arabidopsis local adaptation
GxE in maize root traits 

Our guest in this episode of the Computomics Podcast is Alain Tissier, Managing Director at the Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry. He discusses his research focusing on the molecular mechanisms in plants, particularly the interaction between primary and secondary metabolism and how plants produce chemical compounds for defense and communication. Alain talks about on his work in metabolic engineering and genome editing, particularly using a novel CRISPR-based technology to introduce specific genetic changes in plants. Hear about the INNO-TOM project which uses pangenomes to breed disease-resistant and nutrient-enriched tomatoes.

In this episode, Gabriele Berg, a renowned microbiome researcher, discusses her work on microbial communities and their impact on health and planetary ecosystems. She emphasizes the interconnectedness of microbiomes in plants, soil, and humans, and aims to enhance ecological and human health. The project An Apple a Day revealed the microbiome's role in apple health, highlighting microbial diversity within the fruit. Gabriele also talks about Tiny Biome Tales, an educational microbiome-focused game integrating science and public outreach. She advocates soil health restoration, stressing its importance for sustainable food systems. Also, collaboration, innovation, and science communication being key to impactful research.

More information: