|
This is an archived USAID document retained on this web site as a matter of public record.
USAID Awards $3.6 Million to Develop Rice and Wheat Varieties
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 24, 2008
Press Office: 202-712-4320
Public Information: 202-712-4810
www.usaid.gov
The U.S. Agency for International Development today announced the establishment of a new public-private partnership to produce rice and wheat varieties that will support feeding 1.5 billion people. Partnering with Arcadia Biosciences, this initiative will work to develop Nitrogen Use Efficient (NUE), Salt-Tolerant and Water Use Efficient rice and wheat varieties capable of growing in a variable climate which increases the difficulty of providing these staple crops.
"Sustainable wheat and rice production in South Asia is critical for producers and consumers alike. Environmental variables can be mitigated by the development of these stress tolerant crops, enabling the region to produce more food, spending less for fertilizer and reducing the environmental impact of fertilizer runoff in waterways," said Henrietta H. Fore, USAID Administrator.
This crop improvement project will contribute to increasing the productivity and sustainability of rice and wheat systems in South Asia. Drought, salinity and nitrogen availability are constraints to rice and wheat production in South Asia, a region with almost 1.5 billion people and high rates of poverty and malnutrition. Most climate change scenarios furthermore indicate that climatic conditions will become more variable in the future, making it increasingly difficult for farmers to meet demand for these staple crops.
USAID will grant $3.6 million to Arcadia Biosciences, an agricultural technology company based in Davis, CA. Arcadia will work with its partner in India, Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company Ltd., on product development and implementation for the program. The three year project will leverage over $18 million of additional private sector investment.
For more information about this and other USAID programs, please visit our website: www.usaid.gov.
The U.S. Agency for International Development has provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for nearly 50 years.
Back to Top ^
|
RSS Feed for Recent USAID Press Releases
