Arcadia Biosciences receives final regulatory approval for stress tolerant soybeans in Argentina through Verdeca joint venture

Arcadia Biosciences Inc. of Davis, California has entered into a joint venture with Bioceres S.A., Verdeca.

Through the venture, Aracadia has obtained approval from Argentina's Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries for its HB4 stress tolerance trait in soybeans.

The announcement was made earlier this week by Argentina President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.

“Our regulatory team has done an amazing job to accelerate HB4 soybeans toward commercialization through the generation of quality data and open communication with regulatory agencies,” de Kirchner said.

The approval was the culmination of six seasons of multi-location field trials in Argentina and the United States, including three years of regulatory field trials. The HB4 trait has been proven to yield increases of as much as 14 percent despite multiple stresses, such as drought and low-water conditions.

“Our regulatory team has done an amazing job to accelerate HB4 soybeans toward commercialization through the generation of quality data and open communication with regulatory agencies,” Eric Rey, president and chief executive officer of Arcadia and a manager of Verdeca, said.

South America is the world’s largest exporter of soybeans to both developed and developing countries.