Advanta to develop salt-tolerant sorghum with Arcadia

Netherland-based Advanta BV, has signed a major research and development agreement with Arcadia Biosciences Inc. for the development of salt-tolerant sorghum. Arcadia’s salt-tolerant technology allows plants to produce normal yields and quality under salty water and soil conditions, expanding the range of land available for crop production and reducing requirements for fresh water. Via the agreement, Arcadia receives an upfront payment, milestone payments and a share of commercial sales revenue for the sorghum. This agreement builds upon an earlier agreement reached by the two companies in January 2009 for the development of Nitrogen Use Efficient (NUE) sorghum. Through the combination of technologies like NUE and salt tolerance, Arcadia and Advanta anticipate the development of a highly efficient sweet sorghum biofuel crop that can create an alternative fuel source with significantly reduced environmental impact, low requirements for fresh water, and more favorable economics than other potential biofuel sources. (April 17, 2009)