Updated December 9, 2019:
Benson Hill has made good progress with this project in the 2019 season. We have gained some experience in working with the oil traits and have become more efficient in working these populations. This is important because we have been able to increase the number of lines we are working with. Our progress has been good and as we identify better lines in this part of our program, it helps us to make advances more quickly. We have been working this summer to evaluate our nurseries and re-verify the rows we have been growing in the field through our marker lab. Over 30% of our nursery work is related to the high oleic trait. We have over 20 locations where we have our lines being tested for yield, agronomics and disease tolerance. Our seedstock production is, for the most part, in decent shape with maybe a little later harvest than normal. A very significant part of our seedstock production is in the high oleic varieties. We have been encouraged with our progress in the high oleics.