Syngenta and M.S. Technologies Developed New Soybean Trait

The companies announced a new trait stack that allows for tolerance to six different herbicide active ingredients.

Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Agriculture

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of three stylized soybean plants, evoking the structural innovation of new agricultural trait technology. — Syngenta and M.S. Technologies have introduced Expance, a new soybean trait stack that allows for tolerance to six different herbicide active ingredients. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you believe new herbicide trait technologies improve long-term weed management for growers?

Syngenta and M.S. Technologies have developed Expance, a new soybean trait stack that provides tolerance to six herbicide active ingredients. This technology marks the first time HPPD inhibitor tolerance has been introduced to soybean crops.

Why it matters

The technology offers farmers essential new tools for managing difficult weed species like waterhemp. By utilizing chemical approaches previously reserved for corn, the stack enables earlier spraying to prevent weed emergence.

The Expance trait stack supports 6 distinct herbicide active ingredients, including glyphosate, glufosinate, 2,4-D, and HPPD inhibitors. This development extends chemistry previously used in corn crops to the soybean sector.

The players

Syngenta

Syngenta is a global agribusiness leader that produces agricultural chemicals and seeds.

M.S. Technologies

M.S. Technologies is an agricultural biotechnology company that focuses on developing new plant traits.

The details

The Expance technology stack allows farmers to apply herbicides earlier in the season to effectively stop weed emergence before it begins. This solution is specifically designed to combat hard-to-manage species like waterhemp that have become a primary challenge for growers in the Central United States.

September 30, 2026: The companies announced the new Expance trait technology in Knoxville, Iowa.
2028: Syngenta expects the initial availability of soybean varieties featuring the trait stack.
2029: The company anticipates a full product launch of the Expance technology.

Market Landscape

The development represents a strategic expansion of herbicide-tolerance technology from corn crop systems into the broader soybean market. This move allows the companies to compete more aggressively in weed management by offering farmers a wider chemical toolkit.

Farmers will gain new options for managing resistant weeds like waterhemp when these varieties reach the market starting in 2028. The technology aims to simplify early-season spray programs by allowing for the use of chemistries previously limited to corn.

The takeaway

The adoption of corn-based chemical tolerances in soybeans signals a significant shift in how growers address weed resistance. By diversifying herbicide options, producers can better manage emerging threats and protect crop yields.