PlantArcBio’s herbicide-tolerant gene for soybean and cotton receives regulatory exemption

The Israeli ag-biotech company is engaged in research and development in the field of gene discovery and biological components to improve plant traits

Israeli company PlantArcBio announced that it received final confirmation that its HPPD herbicide tolerant soybean and cotton products are exempt from USDA regulatory oversight as similar products have already been fully evaluated and deregulated.

 

This exemption is a significant step for PlantArcBio and for its potential partners, as it dramatically shortens the time and reduces the costs associated with bringing novel HPPD tolerant soybean and cotton solutions to farmers.

PlantArcBio's Dror Shalitin (from right), Noam Grimberg, Arava Shatil, and Aviva Katz. Photo: PR

 

Weeds are considered the most notorious pests for crops as they can significantly decrease yield by at least 50%, if not treated. Today many of the major crops, such as corn, soybean, cotton, and canola, possess resistance to herbicides, such as Roundup (Glyphosate), given its overwhelming adoption in countries like North America, South America and Australia. Therefore, use of Roundup herbicide is declining due to the resistance that some weeds have developed to that herbicide after 50 years of use.

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Once soybean and cotton plants carry PlantArcBio's discovered gene, they will be resistant to HPPD inhibitor herbicides, and farmers will have the ability to spray and control weeds impacting crop yield.