ARCADIA Biosciences Inc. and Dow AgroSciences LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Co., announced a strategic collaboration to develop and commercialize new breakthrough yield traits and trait stacks in corn.

The collaboration leverages Arcadia's platform of abiotic stress traits with Dow AgroSciences' enabling technology platforms, input traits, regulatory capabilities and commercial channels.

Under the collaboration, the companies will jointly develop and commercialize agronomic yield traits such as nutrient efficiency and water use efficiency, including several corn traits that have already completed advanced field trials conducted by Dow. These traits would then be combined with Dow's input traits to create competitive trait stacks that maximize farmer revenue and efficiency, the announcement said.

The collaboration will also utilize Dow's EXZACT Precision Technology Platform to enhance and accelerate the development of trait stacks. Dow has developed the EXZACT platform under an exclusive license and collaboration agreement in plants with Sangamo BioSciences Inc.

Certain development costs will be co-funded under the collaboration agreement, and the commercial value of the resulting traits in corn will be shared by Arcadia and Dow.

"This collaboration reflects the unique nature of Arcadia's business model, expanding our access to new technologies in new markets with an established leader in agriculture. Dow AgroSciences is one of the most respected names in our industry, with a strong position in corn input traits," Arcadia president and chief executive officer Eric Rey said.

"Developing crops with enhanced agronomic performance is technically difficult, making relationships with companies like Arcadia important as we rise to the challenge and advance technology that will help meet the needs of the future," said Dr. Daniel R. Kittle, Dow AgroSciences vice president, research and development.

"Dow's experience in the corn market, coupled with its rich pipeline of insect resistance and herbicide-tolerant traits, are a perfect complement to Arcadia's agronomic yield and stress-tolerant traits," Rey added. "Together, we can accelerate the development of robust trait stacks that deliver significant added value to growers."

Specific financial details of the collaboration were not disclosed.

Arcadia is based in Davis, Cal., with additional facilities in Seattle, Wash., and Phoenix, Ariz. Arcadia's agronomic performance traits include nitrogen use efficiency, water use efficiency, salinity tolerance, heat tolerance and herbicide tolerance, while its nutrition traits and products are aimed at creating healthier ingredients and whole foods with lower production costs.

Dow AgroSciences, based in Indianapolis, Ind., discovers, develops and brings to market crop protection and plant biotechnology solutions for the growing world.

Volume:87 Issue:47