Key Takeaways
- Cibus, Inc. (Nasdaq: CBUS) has transferred gene-edited materials for herbicide tolerance in rice to its Latin American partner Interoc, marking a scheduled development milestone.
- Interoc will use the transferred materials to begin testing and production ahead of the commercial launch of its CIBUS-enhanced seed products in Latin America.
- The transfer was developed using Cibus's proprietary Rapid Trait Development System, which the company says enables predictable, time-bound trait innovation.
- Cibus co-founder and Interim CEO Peter Beetham cited advancing global harmonisation of gene editing regulations as a tailwind for further partner deliveries over the coming year.
- The company has additional improved rice and crop traits in its pipeline earmarked specifically for Interoc's elite product lines.
Cibus Transfers Gene-Edited Rice Materials to Interoc for Latin American Market Launch
Cibus, Inc. (Nasdaq: CBUS), an agricultural technology company focused on plant trait development and licensing, has completed the transfer of gene-edited materials for herbicide tolerance in rice to its partner Interoc. The handover enables Interoc to begin testing and scale production in preparation for the commercial introduction of CIBUS-branded enhanced seed products across the Latin American agricultural sector.
A Critical Crop for Latin American Growers
Rice occupies a central place in Latin American agriculture, and the collaboration between Cibus and Interoc is specifically oriented toward equipping regional growers with advanced traits designed to improve productivity. Fernando De La Puente, Corporate Vice President at Interoc, commented on the progress:
“Our collaboration with Cibus continues to deliver significant value. Rice is a critical crop for the Latin American economy, and we are committed to providing growers with advanced traits that optimize their productivity,” said Fernando De La Puente, Corporate Vice President at Interoc.
Cibus Highlights Rapid Trait Development System and Regulatory Momentum
Peter Beetham, PhD, Co-founder and Interim Chief Executive Officer of Cibus, noted the significance of hitting this milestone on schedule:
“Achieving this milestone on schedule and within rigorous development timelines reinforces our core objective: the predictable, time-bound development of desired traits in rice and other crops. With our Rapid Trait Development System, we are addressing the global need for accelerated trait innovation and helping equip farmers with solutions to increase yields and support food security. Buoyed by the progressing harmonization of gene editing regulatory frameworks around the world, we expect to deliver additional gene-edited materials to our partners over the coming year as more traits progress toward commercialization,” said Peter Beetham, PhD, Co-founder and Interim Chief Executive Officer of Cibus.
Pipeline and Commercial Outlook
Martin Poveda, Senior Director of Rice & Business Affairs at Cibus, described the depth of the partnership and what lies ahead:
“Our partnership with Interoc has been characterized by high-level collaboration and productivity. Together, we are creating solutions tailored specifically for Interoc's key markets and customers. At Cibus, we have several improved traits in our pipeline earmarked for Interoc's elite product lines in rice and other crops and we look forward to the commercial roll out of these gene-edited products in the coming years,” said Martin Poveda, Senior Director Rice & Business Affairs at Cibus.
The company has indicated that multiple additional traits are progressing toward commercialisation, with further material transfers to partners anticipated as the global regulatory environment for gene editing continues to evolve.
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