US-based Arcadia Biosciences has announced the new study has revealed significant yield improvements in NERICA rice lines after using its nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) trait.

The ‘Development and Field Performance of Nitrogen Use Efficient Rice Lines for Africa’ study was conducted by the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) and published in the Plant Biotechnology Journal.

Arcadia president and CEO Raj Ketkar said: “This study indicates that Arcadia’s NUE trait can support enhanced yields for the world’s most important food crop.

“While the CIAT study references NERICA rice varieties, we believe our NUE trait can generate significant yield gains, reduce the use of nitrogen fertiliser, and improve on-farm economics for farmers growing rice varieties currently being commercialised in Asia, the world’s most important production and consumption rice market.”

“This study indicates that Arcadia’s NUE trait can support enhanced yields for the world’s most important food crop."

The company claimed that using Arcadia’s NUE trait over three growing seasons in both upland, as well as the lowland rice production systems has resulted in yield increases under different nitrogen application rates.

The leading NUE rice line indicated a 34% increase over controls.

It has developed this product to help farmers increase rice yields and reduce their use of nitrogen fertiliser.

Rice is grown on more than 405 million acres worldwide with a harvest value of $328bn in 2013, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.

This crop plays a critical role in food security for more than half of the world’s population.