December 30, 2015
Dow AgroSciences, Arcadia collaborate to develop commercial corn traits
In early December this year, Arcadia Biosciences, Inc. and Dow AgroSciences LLC had announced a strategic collaboration to develop and commercialise innovative yield traits and trait stacks in corn.
The collaboration leverages Arcadia''s leading platform of abiotic stress traits with Dow AgroSciences'' enabling technology platforms, input traits, regulatory capabilities and commercial channels.
The companies will jointly create agronomic yield traits, such as nutrient efficiency and water use efficiency, as well as several traits which had already completed advanced field trials in corn conducted by Dow AgroSciences. These traits would then be combined with Dow AgroSciences'' input traits to create highly competitive trait stacks that maximise farmer revenue and efficiency.
The collaboration will also utilise Dow AgroSciences'' EXZACT™ Precision Technology Platform to enhance and accelerate the development of trait stacks. Dow AgroSciences has developed the EXZACT™ Precision Technology Platform under an exclusive license and collaboration agreement with Sangamo BioSciences, Inc.
Certain development costs will be co-funded under the collaboration agreement, and the commercial value of resulting traits in corn will be shared by Arcadia and Dow AgroSciences.
"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," said Eric Rey, president and CEO of Arcadia Biosciences.
"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 Daniel R. Kittle, vice president of research and development for Dow AgroSciences.
"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."