11 Alveo’s be.well platform is a point-of-care infectious disease diagnostic platform that utilizes the company’s proprietary and globally patented method for the direct electrical sensing of nucleic acid amplification. Its disease diagnostic analyzer is only as big as a smartphone and can be utilized in the field rather than having to be sent to a special lab for analysis. It eliminates the need for specialized lighting and expensive optical detectors while also simplifying certain aspects of primer manufacturing and providing a more robust and reliable diagnostic instrument. Within the partnership with Corteva, its scientists will explore three components of the platform to develop agri-based assays. • be.well Analyzer, a portable, palm-sized, rechargeable device; • the be.well Cartridge, which contains the reagents required for an isothermal amplification reaction; • and the be.well Mobile App, which will provide step-by-step guidance on how to administer the test, perform cloud connectivity for reporting and tracking results, and provide back-end analytics for deeper insights into pathogen behavior. The be.well platform technology uses a unique method of nucleic acid amplification in combination with Alveo-proprietary direct electrical sensors. This creates improved outcomes across numerous market sectors and verticals at the point of need—including, it hopes, within agriculture. The platform was designed from the bottom up, and per Alveo, it provides the operator with earlier detection and diagnosis of pathogen issues thanks to its portability, ease of use, robust and rugged design, multiplexing capability, high accuracy, and yes, fast result times. The system is cloud-connected and Bluetoothenabled, with advanced data and analytics available for reportable diseases and monitoring and surveillance of new and emerging pathogens. Using the hand-held device will help farmers significantly limit the negative, destructive impact of viruses, fungi, bacteria, and other pathogens while learning about them quicker, providing more time to act and resolve. Ultimately, the goal is to help farmers reduce costs and improve their yields. The Alveo-Corteva partnership should pave the way for that. According to Zastrow-Hayes, the partnership will take place at Corteva’s R&D site in Johnston, Iowa, and Alveo’s Alameda site. Alveo will provide the platform, including hardware, consumables, and software for the plant pathogen test (assay) development. Assay development studies will be conducted at the Corteva site for both lab and field studies, while both companies will collaborate closely during all stages of development. | pag Alveo Technologies and Corteva Agriscience partner up to develop a point-of-need diagnostic to help protect farmers’ fields
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