Iowa Company Unveils Mechanized Pollination for Corn Seed Production

PowerPollen partners with Oxbow to introduce first-of-its-kind technology for corn seed producers

Published on Jan. 29, 2026

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An Iowa-based ag technology company called PowerPollen has developed a new mechanized pollination system designed specifically for corn seed production. The technology allows seed companies to purchase and scale the system, giving producers more control over when and how pollination occurs. PowerPollen says the system has the potential to increase yields and reduce production costs, particularly for hybrid corn seed production.

Why it matters

Corn seed production is a critical part of the agricultural supply chain, and this new technology from PowerPollen could help improve reliability, productivity, and cost-effectiveness for seed producers. The ability to precisely control pollination timing and application could lead to significant gains in yield and efficiency.

The details

PowerPollen, founded in Ames, Iowa in 2015, has partnered with Oxbow to introduce the first mechanized pollination system for corn seed production. The technology allows seed companies to purchase and scale the system, giving producers more control over when and how pollination occurs. According to the company, the key innovation is the ability to store pollen for up to 6 years while maintaining high viability, compared to the traditional 30-minute lifespan of pollen. This storage capability enables the system to collect, preserve, and apply pollen at scale to help increase yields and decrease production costs.

  • PowerPollen was founded in Ames, Iowa in 2015.
  • The new mechanized pollination system is being introduced ahead of the 2026 growing season.

The players

PowerPollen

An Iowa-based ag technology company founded in 2015 that has developed a new mechanized pollination system for corn seed production.

Oxbow

A company that has partnered with PowerPollen to introduce the new mechanized pollination system.

Jason Cope

The co-founder and Chief Innovation and Product Officer of PowerPollen.

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What they’re saying

“Started this company back in 2015 with the idea that if we could store pollen from row crops and keep it highly viable, the things that we could do with that stored pollen to improve agriculture would be, I dare say, immeasurable in terms of the reliability of agriculture and the productivity of agriculture.”

— Jason Cope, Co-founder and Chief Innovation and Product Officer, PowerPollen (Money Matters on the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network)

“But essentially we've built technologies around the stored pollen to go out and collect, preserve, and apply pollen at scale. And so for aspects of seed production, for example, for hybrid corn seed production being a prime example, we're able to store and apply pollen in ways that help to increase yield and decrease costs of goods.”

— Jason Cope, Co-founder and Chief Innovation and Product Officer, PowerPollen (Money Matters on the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network)

What’s next

More details on the new mechanized pollination system are available on the PowerPollen website.

The takeaway

This new technology from PowerPollen has the potential to revolutionize corn seed production by giving producers more control over the pollination process. The ability to precisely time and apply pollen could lead to significant gains in yield and efficiency, benefiting the entire agricultural supply chain.