Assets of 'greener soy' developer bought by firm with focus on feed

The assets of a US company that developed planet-friendly varieties of soy used in feed by trout grower Riverence and aquafeed heavyweight BioMar have been bought by Confluence Genetics, LLC, a company backed by experienced investors.

Benson Hill, which used a combination of machine learning, genetic selection and / or gene editing to produce a range of soy varieties with different characteristics, filed for bankruptcy earlier this year.

Ultra-high protein (UHP) and low anti-nutrient levels in Benson Hill’s soy reduce the need for processing steps to concentrate protein levels. The result is a minimally processed ingredient designed as an alternative to commodity soy protein concentrate (SPC) that requires up to 70% less water and up to 50% less CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) to produce than US-sourced SPC.

UHP soy also uses up to 83% less water and up to 89% less CO2e when compared to Brazilian-sourced SPC, accounting for the impacts of deforestation.

Animal feed

Confluence Genetics said it will focus on scaling the proprietary ultra-high protein soybean genetics for animal feed, expanding market position in its speciality food grade portfolio, and expanding geographies by leveraging its unique soy germplasm, AI-powered breeding platform, and speed breeding facility.

“This is more than a financial reset - it’s a strategic reboot and a bright beginning,” said Kim Hurst, a seasoned agribusiness professional and Confluence Genetics’ newly appointed chief executive. “With our proprietary genetics, CropOS technology platform, and state-of-the-art speed breeding facility, we will deliver high-value, differentiated, quality trait soybeans.”

Confluence Genetics’ acquisition includes more than 350 patents issued or pending, and its 2029 soybean class - recently planted in 2025 field trials - is expected to deliver advanced quality traits in the industry. It said this lineup of value-added varieties is designed to deliver higher protein, boost oil quality, and offer differentiated genetic advancements across the agriculture value chain.

Mike DeCamp, chief executive of Confluence Genetics investor Expedition Ag Partners and the incoming executive chairman of the Confluence board, said the company “has the right tools, talent, and technology to shape soy innovation in ways that we’re only beginning to appreciate”.