Seeds of Resilience: Innovation to Address Climate Volatility

The discussion around climate has changed from quiet rumblings to a daily reality for farmers across the globe. From unpredictable rainfall and rising temperatures to shifting pest pressures and soil degradation, farmers must continue to adapt, and faster than ever before. In these changing times, seed technology isn’t just a tool — it’s a vital resource. See how Corteva Agriscience is helping farmers meet challenges head-on, with new genetics, seed traits and crop protection solutions designed to help plants thrive in a world where the only constant is change.

In the last 15-20 years climate trends have produced:

• Temperature changes: Hotter summers have placed increased stress on crops throughout the Midwest, including in Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Indiana.¹ 
• Unfavorable precipitation patterns: Rainfall has become more intense, leading to increased flooding and erosion. The variability of swings between drought and flooding has increased, making planning harder for farmers.¹
• Pest and disease pressure: Milder winters have allowed pests and pathogens to survive and expand their range, threatening crops like corn and soybeans.²

Within the next two or three decades, it is projected that there will be:

• Rising temperatures: Within another 25 years, Missouri could face the same heat and humidity that Louisiana currently experiences. Both corn and soybeans are sensitive to increases in heat, with production decreasing for every degree of warming.³ 
• Extreme weather: Farming cycles will be challenged by the increasing frequency of droughts, floods and heatwaves. Storm intensification is expected, which could damage crops.² 
• Agricultural shifts: Growing zones will shift north, opening up new regions for crops but disrupting current ones. By 2050, North Dakota, already abundant with corn and soybeans, could be seeing even higher yields thanks to an increase in the number of growing days. However, portions of Texas and Oklahoma could face a yield decrease of more than 70% due to increases in temperatures.³

What does this mean for farmers?

Farmers who adapt early by investing in resilience and embracing new technologies will be better positioned to f lourish. Here’s a closer look at some of the areas Corteva is investing in to help mitigate climate impacts.

Seed genetics

• Drought and heat conditions: Compared to the 1940s, current Corteva hybrids achieve up to three times greater yields in drought conditions. Leading the way in drought performance, these hybrids boast strong agronomics that can deliver in good weather or bad. 
• Flood conditions: Those same characteristics that make Corteva hybrids strong performers during drought allow them to perform well under excessive water conditions. In fact, today’s hybrids from Corteva yield up to three times more per inch of water than hybrids from the 1950s.
• Wind conditions: Corteva is currently developing reduced stature corn that will have a number of future benefits. First, with the growing increase in wind events, reducedstature corn would be better equipped to stand up to these situations. In addition, reduced-stature corn will allow for planting at higher densities for a per acre yield increase. The possibility of improved ground equipment access could also allow for easier application of fertilizers and other inputs.

Seed traits

• Weed infestation: Crops will experience longer growing seasons in the future, thanks to increased temperatures across the country. Of course, along with increased opportunities for crops come increased opportunities for weeds. The Enlist^® trait, with tolerance to four herbicides in corn and three herbicides in soybeans, can provide excellent weed management flexibility not only now, but years to come. What’s next? Corteva’s new solution: Soybean HT4 (COR1591), which expands grower functionality by adding PPO herbicide tolerance in a new four-event gene molecular stack. Multiple herbicide tolerances further expand farmers’ weed control options.
• Insect pests: With three distinct Bt proteins, PowerCore^® Enlist^® corn can help in the future with projected increases in insect populations likely to result from warmer temperatures. For the coming decade Corteva also expects to launch a third-generation, below-ground corn rootworm trait. This new trait will use non-Bt insecticidal proteins to control corn rootworm. Multiple, novel MOAs will help drive trait durability and balance plant protection with yield performance. Highly effective against western and northern corn rootworm and capable of being stacked with other herbicide traits, this technology will help ensure that farmers are able to continue the battle against yield-robbing pests.

Crop protection and nutrition

• Seed treatments: As a leader in seed treatments, Corteva currently offers multiple standout products designed for healthier stand establishment and lowering the potential for transmission of plant diseases.
• Foliar crop protection: The forecasted rise in temperatures will bring with it increased opportunities for diseases to attack crops and reduce yields. Pending registration approvals, Corteva’s 2026 weapon against harmful foliar diseases like tar spot, southern rust and frogeye leaf spot will be Forcivo™ fungicide. Three overlapping MOAs will give growers a powerful disease-fighting tool to help manage disease resistance and protect yield potential through improved disease protection.
• Biologicals: Often used to enhance nutrient availability and to help boost yield and sustainability, seed-applied biologicals can help in a number of ways, including nitrogen f ixation, root nodulation and improved growth. Utrisha^® N is a foliar-applied biological that provides increased yield potential through enhanced nitrogen management. The nitrogen-fixing bacteria in Utrisha N helps supply necessary nitrogen to crops for the duration of the growing season. Utrisha N field trials show average yield increases of 2.5 bu/A in soybeans* and 5 bu/A in corn.**

As climate changes continue to reshape the agricultural landscape, the need for resilient, forward-thinking solutions has never been greater. With the support of Corteva and its cutting-edge seed technologies and agronomic insights, growers can face the future with confidence. By investing in climate-smart tools, Corteva helps farmers safeguard harvests today and cultivate a more sustainable and secure tomorrow.

* Data is based on average yield advantage of Utrisha N treated soybeans adjacent to untreated soybeans in 2021 and 2022 field trials. Product performance is variable and depends on a variety of factors including but not limited to weather conditions, soil factors and manner of use or application. Individual results may vary. 31 trials of high yielding soybean environments with greater than 80 bu/A.
**Data is based on average yield advantage of Utrisha N + optimal nitrogen application compared to optimal nitrogen application in 2021 and 2022 field trials. Product performance is variable and depends on a variety of factors including but not limited to weather conditions, soil factors and manner of use or application. Individual results may vary.
¹ Kavahn Mansouri, “Latest U.S. Climate Report Issues Stark Warning for Midwest Agriculture, Health and Infrastructure,” Nebraska Public Media, December 4, 2023, https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/ news/news-articles/latest-us-climate-report-issues-stark-warnings-for-midwest-agriculture-health-and-infrastructure/.
² David Oppedahl and Chad Jorgensen, “Climate Change and Risks to Midwest Agriculture,” Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, April 17, 2023, https://www.chicagofed.org/publications/blogs/midwesteconomy/2023/climate-change-agriculture-risks.
³ Al Shaw, et al., “New Climate Maps Show a Transformed United States,” ProPublica, September 15, 2020, https://projects.propublica.org/climate-migration/.

™ ® Trademarks of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies. The transgenic soybean event in Enlist E3^® soybeans is jointly developed and owned by Corteva Agriscience and M.S. Technologies L.L.C. POWERCORE^® is a registered trademark of Bayer Group. POWERCORE^® multi-event technology developed by Corteva Agriscience and Monsanto. Always follow IRM, grain marketing and all other stewardship practices and pesticide label directions. Bt products may not yet be registered in all states. Check with your seed representative for the registration status in your state. Following burndown, Enlist Duo^® and Enlist One^® herbicides with Colex-D^® technology are the only herbicides containing 2,4-D that are authorized for preemergence and postemergence use with Enlist^® crops. Consult Enlist^® herbicide labels for weed species controlled. Enlist Duo and Enlist One herbicides are not registered for use or sale in all states and counties; are not registered in AK, CA, CT, HI, ID, MA, ME, MT, NH, NV, OR, RI, UT, VT, WA and WY; and have additional subcounty restrictions in AL, GA, TN and TX, while existing county restrictions still remain in FL. All users must check “Bulletins Live! Two” no earlier than six months before using Enlist One or Enlist Duo. To obtain “Bulletins,” consult epa.gov/espp/, call 1-844-447-3813, or email ESPP@epa.gov. You must use the “Bulletin” valid for the month and state and county in which Enlist One or Enlist Duo are being applied. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency if you have questions about the registration status of Enlist^® herbicides in your area. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. IT IS A VIOLATION OF FEDERAL AND STATE LAW TO USE ANY PESTICIDE PRODUCT OTHER THAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS LABELING. ONLY USE FORMULATIONS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY LABELED FOR SUCH USE IN THE STATE OF APPLICATION. USE OF PESTICIDE PRODUCTS, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, 2,4-D-CONTAINING PRODUCTS NOT AUTHORIZED FOR USE WITH ENLIST CROPS, MAY RESULT IN OFF-TARGET DAMAGE TO SENSITIVE CROPS/AREAS AND/OR SUSCEPTIBLE PLANTS, IN ADDITION TO CIVIL AND/OR CRIMINAL PENALTIES. Additional product-specific stewardship requirements for Enlist crops, including the Enlist Product Use Guide, can be found at  www.traitstewardship.com. Jemvelva^™ is a registered active ingredient. Utrisha® N is not registered for sale or use in all states. Forcivo^™ is not approved for sale or use. This is not an offer for sale. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. LibertyLink^® and the Water Droplet Design are registered trademarks of BASF. Roundup^® and Roundup Ready^® are registered trademarks of Bayer Group. Always read and follow label directions. © 2025 Corteva.   025795   LC (10/25)