Mahyco, Arcadia reach key milestone in development of WUE rice

Seed company Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds (Mahyco) said it has achieved a key milestone in the development of 'water use efficient' rice using the technology by Arcadia Biosciences.
"With this milestone, we are closer to bringing the benefits of this technology to farmers who are challenged with reduced water availability on their farms and improving the overall productivity of the crop," Mahyco Chief Technology Officer Usha Zehr said here.
Arcadia's water use efficient (WUE) technology seeks to improve crop yields under episodic water-stress conditions typical to global agriculture, as well as under severe drought conditions, Mahyco claimed.
The WUE rice developed by Mahyco is expected to be among early examples of crops to withstand varying environmental effects of climate change while expanding the range of usable acreage for crop production, the company said.

Arcadia's WUE technology significantly increased plant growth under normal and water-stress conditions in multiple rice lines developed by Mahyco, it claimed, adding that the rice lines incorporating the technology showed double-digit increase in key plant performance and yield measures.
At a time when farmers in India face significant pressure

to increase productivity, factors such as urban growth, drought and rainfall variations are limiting water resources available for agriculture, particularly for water intensive crops such as rice, Arcadia President and CEO Eric Rey said.
"Through our collaboration with Mahyco on WUE and other agronomic technologies, we are working to increase yields and improve efficiency in the use of key inputs, like fresh water," Rey added.

US-based Arcadia Biosciences is focused on developing agricultural products that benefit the environment and enhance human health.
Rice is the world's most valuable crop, grown on 162 million hectares globally with a harvest value of USD 334.7 billion in 2012, according to FAO statistics.
This crop plays a critical role in food security for more than half of the world's population.
Based on current growth rates, India is expected to overtake China as the world's most populous nation by the year 2030.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) estimates that 221 million people in India, or about one-fifth of the population, are undernourished.