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DuPont and US-based agricultural biotechnology company Arcadia Biosciences (Davis) have formed a research and commercial alliance to develop nitrogen use efficiency in maize. The undisclosed agreement stipulates that DuPont subsidiary Pioneer Hi-Bred has exclusive rights to Arcadia’s proprietary nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) technology for maize. 

The collaboration is expected to give a “significant boost” to the progress DuPont has already made in developing nitrogen-efficient maize hybrids and encourage increases in “productivity, profitability and sustainability” of global maize production, notes DuPont’s vice president of genetics research and development Willim S, Neiber. 

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The alliance claims that the maize hybrids will improve farm economies by reducing grower’s costs of production and enable profitability, as NUE maize will result in maximising the absorption of nitrogen in crops, resulting in less nitrogen fertiliser use. 

According to the International Association and the Food and Agriculture Organisation, more than 12.5 million metric tons of nitrogen fertiliser is applied to maize annually.

The alliance, with Arcadia, will build on the NUE field testing stages already under way at Pioneer.

By Amnah Ali

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