Arcadia Biosciences' Verdeca showcases HB4 soybean varieties at Expoagro in Argentina

Verdeca, Arcadia Biosciences Inc (NASDAQ:RKDA) and Bioceres Crop Solutions Corp’s (NYSEAMERICAN:BIOX) joint venture, will unveil an array of soybean varieties carrying the drought-tolerant HB4 trait to thousands of South American growers at Expoagro 2020, which will be held from today through March 13 in San Nicolas, Argentina.  These HB4 soybean varieties, which are still in a pre-commercial stage, provide tolerance to droughts and herbicides.  READ: Arcadia Biosciences wins US patent for yield-improving wheat allele “HB4 is a novel soybean trait that provides yield stability across diverse environments, delivering a biotech solution beyond the traditional packages, primarily focused on pest control traits,” said Martin Mariani Ventura, general manager of Verdeca. “This technology provides farmers with an important tool to address challenges associated with climate change.” At Verdeca’s pavilion at Expoagro 2020, more than 150,000 South American growers will be able to inspect field plots of HB4 soybeans, which protect against drought conditions and safeguard yields when crops are challenged by water and salinity deficiencies. On top of drought tolerance, HB4 soybeans also provide resistance to a certain type of broad-spectrum herbicide which is used to prevent the growth of a range of weeds and grasses. “As the only commercial soybean trait for drought tolerance, we believe HB4 has the potential to significantly improve the performance of soybean cultivation globally,” said Matt Plavan, CEO of Arcadia Biosciences. The HB4 trait has already won regulatory approval in more than 80% of the soybean market, including the US, Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. The new genetic technology, meanwhile, is still under regulatory consideration in China, Canada, Bolivia and Uruguay. To launch this hardier variety of soybeans commercially in Argentina, import approval is required from China, which could come as soon as later this year. A second recruiting round for South American growers interested in adopting HB4 soybean varieties will take place during the third day of Expoagro 2020. Verdeca was set up in the US as a joint venture by Arcadia and Bioceres in 2012 to develop soybean traits in South and North America. Working with South American growers, Verdeca provides technology that boosts crop productivity and allows for more efficient uses of land and water.