Arcadia Biosciences Inc. and Bioceres S.A. have entered a joint venture titled Verdeca, and announced that the company’s safety evaluation for HB4 soybeans received a full review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
“The HB4 gene holds great promise for bringing better yield stability to agriculture in areas that experience chronic water stress problems,” Raj Ketkar, president and CEO of Arcadia Biosciences, said in a statement. “Our combined efforts aim to create significant value for soybean growers by increasing the productivity and sustainability of this important protein crop in the face of global climate challenges.”
With the notice from the FDA, Verdeca will be able to develop products derived from HB4 soybeans for commercial use in human food and animal feed. Arcadia and Verdeca noted that the notice is a milestone in their efforts to develop soybean seed products based on the HB4 stress tolerance trait.
“The FDA is one of the most prestigious regulatory agencies in the world and its opinions are of reference to regulators everywhere,” Bioceres CEO Federico Trucco said. “In a way, this FDA clearance testifies to the quality standards implementented in HB4 product development and safety evaluations. We hope this decision will help expedite international regulatory clearances for HB4 soybeans, and bring us closer to the much anticipated launch of this unique technology.”
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