HB4 trait now has regulatory approval in over 80% of the global soybean market
Image: Verdeca has secured USDA approval for HB4 drought tolerant soybeans. Photo: courtesy of Jing from Pixabay.
Verdeca has secured approval from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) for its HB4 drought tolerant soybeans.
The approval, which enables commercialisation of HB4 in the US market, comes two years after the regulator’s approval of Verdeca’s HB4 trait in 2017.
Verdeca general manager Martin Mariani Ventura said: “HB4 is a novel soybean trait that enhances the traditional herbicide tolerance package to provide yield stability across diverse environments.
“Approval of this technology in the United States is a significant step for the successful commercialization of HB4 technology in the global soybean market.”
HB4 drought tolerant soybeans
The HB4 stack is the company’s new product developed to help soybean producers through providing quality improvement, stress mitigation and management practices.
At present, the HB4 trait has regulatory approval in over 80% of the global soybean market. It has already secured approval in Argentina and Brazil and regulatory submissions are currently under assessment in China, Paraguay, Bolivia and Uruguay.
According to the company, import approval from China is required for commercial launch in Argentina and is expected in 2020.
Arcadia Biosciences president and CEO Raj Ketkar said: “The USDA and FDA approvals are important steps in our continued drive to commercialize this trait in key markets.”
Verdeca, a joint venture between Arcadia Biosciences and Bioceres Crop Solutions, is involved in the development and deregulation of soybean varieties with next-generation agricultural technologies.
Verdeca is working with South American growers to increase crop productivity by efficient and sustainable use of land and water resources.
Verdeca was formed to deploy next-generation soybean traits in all major production regions, starting in South America and North America.
Arcadia Biosciences, which develops and markets food ingredients and nutritional oils, produces GoodWheat branded ingredients for consumer packaged goods companies.
Bioceres Crop Solutions is a fully-integrated provider of crop productivity solutions such as seeds, seed traits, seed treatments, biologicals, high-value adjuvants and fertilisers.