US-based Cibus Inc. is set to bring its advanced gene editing technologies to India’s vital rice industry. The company has teamed up with AgVaya, a Mumbai-based firm, to develop and introduce these innovations. This partnership aims to help Indian rice farmers grow better crops more sustainably.
Cibus specialises in using gene editing to improve seeds. This technology can speed up the process of developing new rice varieties, making them more resilient to climate change and diseases. It also helps reduce the need for pesticides, which is good for the environment and farmers’ costs. The collaboration with AgVaya will focus on creating advanced traits for herbicide tolerance and sustainability in rice seeds.
AgVaya will work with Cibus to create a plan for expanding these technologies in India. They will partner with Indian companies, research institutions, and government bodies. The goal is to make modern seed technologies more affordable and accessible to Indian rice seed companies and public agencies. This could significantly shorten the time it takes to breed improved rice varieties, potentially by more than a decade.
India is a major player in the global rice market, being the second-largest producer and the largest exporter. Rice is crucial for India’s economy and food security. The country cultivates rice on about 50 million hectares. Therefore, improving rice production is a key priority.
Peter Beetham, co-founder and Interim CEO of Cibus, stated that this partnership is a significant step for the company. He believes their gene editing technologies can greatly benefit one of the world’s most important rice-producing regions. Sekhar Natarajan, Partner at AgVaya, added that they aim to speed up the adoption of these technologies. This will lead to long-term improvements, strengthening India’s rice industry and contributing to global food security.
Modern gene editing offers solutions that can lower costs, speed up crop development, and decrease reliance on pesticides. This approach supports the creation of rice varieties that yield more and can withstand challenging growing conditions. Cibus is inviting research and development collaborations to maximise the impact of these technologies in India.
This agreement follows a recent announcement by Cibus regarding a similar collaboration for Latin America. There, they partnered with the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) and the Latin American Fund for Irrigated Rice (FLAR) to introduce a herbicide tolerance trait into elite rice varieties for that region. The focus on innovation in rice cultivation highlights the growing importance of advanced agricultural technologies in addressing global food challenges.