Today (Aug. 8), Arcadia Biosciences, Inc. and Dow AgroSciences LLC announced they will collaborate to develop and commercialize a breakthrough improved wheat quality trait in North America. The collaboration leverages Arcadia’s non-GM TILLING trait development platform with Dow AgroSciences’ enabling technology platforms, high-quality germplasm and global commercial channels.
“This collaboration reflects the unique nature of Arcadia’s business model, expanding our access into the growing market of improved nutrition traits with an established leader in agriculture,” says Raj Ketkar, president and CEO of Arcadia Biosciences. “Dow AgroSciences’ experience in value-added crops is a perfect complement to Arcadia’s portfolio of nutritional quality traits.
“Together, we can accelerate the development and commercial deployment of improved nutrition crop traits to deliver significant added value to growers, food manufacturers and consumers.”
Under the collaboration, the companies will further develop and commercialize an improved wheat quality trait, which has completed initial field trials and is advancing to next-stage field trials. Dow AgroSciences will introgress Arcadia’s trait into its proprietary elite germplasm lines and manage all aspects related to the trait commercialization. Certain development costs will be co-funded under the collaboration agreement, and the commercial value will be shared by Arcadia and Dow AgroSciences.
“Wheat is a staple crop around the globe, and our scientific expertise can help improve the nutritional profile and quality of this important crop by enhancing its value for human health and consumption while also enabling farmers to produce an added value crop,” says Rolando Alegria, Dow AgroSciences global business leader for wheat, forages and sorghum.
Specific financial and trait details of the collaboration were not disclosed.
