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Arcadia Biosciences today announced that development of Nitrogen Use Efficient (NUE) canola is showing early success. In addition to eight successful field trials completed over five growing seasons, Arcadia established a collaboration with Monsanto Company in 2005 to develop NUE canola, and early field trials indicate notable progress.

Field trials have demonstrated that NUE canola can maintain normal yield while using 50 percent less nitrogen fertilizer, or increase yields by 15 percent or more under conventional fertilizer use rates.

Conventional crops can only absorb about one-half of the nitrogen that is applied in the form of fertilizer. The other one-half may enter the atmosphere, ground water and surface waters. Because it enables farmers to increase the amount of crop yield per unit of nitrogen fertilizer used, NUE technology provides the opportunity to increase profitability and help improve the environment.

"NUE Canola field trials and variety development activities continue to demonstrate that farmers will soon have the choice to grow crops that can increase their profitability and reduce the amount of nitrogen that enters the atmosphere, ground water, and surface waters," said Eric Rey, president and CEO of Arcadia. "Working with Monsanto on this project provides significant value in the canola market, and we're encouraged by the opportunity for widespread availability of the technology to farmers in the world's major canola growing regions."

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

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