Mahyco, Arcadia Biosciences develop nitrogen use efficient rice

PUNE: Mahyco Seeds and Arcadia Biosciences Inc., today announced the achievement of Nitrogen Use Efficient (NUE) rice. As outlined in the 2008 agreement between the companies, Arcadia received a significant but undisclosed milestone payment.

Arcadia’s NUE technology claims to reduce the need for nitrogen fertilisers. Based in Davis, Calif., Arcadia Biosciences is an agricultural technology company. "NUE technology significantly increased plant growth and yield in multiple rice lines. Rice lines incorporating NUE technology showed double-digit increases in key plant performance and yield measures," stated a Mahyco release.

Rice is the world’s second-largest crop, grown on 160 million hectares annually. India has the world’s largest rice growing area, with more than 44 million hectares grown annually.

Beyond NUE rice, Arcadia and Mahyco are also working on a number of other technologies and crops to increase farm productivity.

“Mahyco’s achievement of this milestone is further validation of the benefits that can be realised from NUE technology,” said Eric Rey, president and CEO of Arcadia.