Arcadia Biosciences, an agricultural biotechnology company focused on developing products that benefit the environment and human health, today announced that it has received a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop soybeans with desired levels of soy isoflavones.

Soy isoflavones, also known as phytoestrogens, are phytochemicals that have been shown to reduce menopausal symptoms in women, as well as decrease the risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, breast cancer and prostate cancer. Some studies have also suggested that because of similarities to estrogen activity in the human body, there may be situations where high levels of soy isoflavones could be undesirable.

Arcadia will use its proprietary TILLING(R) advanced screening technology to develop soybean plants that, through genetic variation, contain various levels of soy isoflavones, ranging from very high to very low or none at all. The products that could be developed through this effort would be used to satisfy demands of food manufacturers who desire particular levels of soy isoflavones for specific uses.

"Our ability to control isoflavone levels in soybeans through advanced screening techniques can provide food manufacturers with soybeans that meet their unique specifications for the development of healthier products," said Eric Rey, president of Arcadia. "This effort fits squarely within our expertise in the identification and development of desired soybean traits using our proprietary TILLING(R) technology."

Arcadia's current product pipeline includes technologies that either protect the environment or improve human health. The company expects to launch its first product, GLA-enriched safflower oil, to the nutritional supplement market in 2008. Other technologies include higher-yielding plants that use less nitrogen fertilizer, salt-tolerant plants, and longer-lasting fresh produce. These products are being developed using both genetic engineering and advanced breeding technologies.

Based in Davis, Calif., with additional facilities in Seattle, Wash. and Phoenix, Ariz., Arcadia Biosciences is an agricultural biotechnology company focused on the development of agricultural products that improve the environment and enhance human health.