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Arcadia Biosciences of Davis to commercialize genetically modified canola
plants that use half the customary amounts of nitrogen fertilizer, September
2005 by Jim Wasserman.

Arcadia, a privately held firm backed by Exeter Life Sciences investors,
says field trials across five growing seasons show its genetically
engineered canola plants get higher yields than conventional varieties while
using less fertilizer.

The plant varieties, engineered with a nitrogen efficiency gene, are
expected to be available to farmers after 2010. Arcadia officials say they
will trim farmers' fertilizer bills while pushing less nitrogen runoff into
the world's waterways.

"Nitrogen is to agriculture what gasoline is to the automotive industry,"
said Arcadia President and Chief Executive Officer, Eric J. Rey. "Plants
typically absorb less than half of the nitrogen fertilizer that is applied.
As a result, growers only realize about half of the value of their
fertilizer input investment."

Global biotech giant Monsanto, based in St. Louis, agreed to make an
undisclosed upfront payment to Arcadia as well as to pay royalties to the
firm based on its future sales of modified canola seeds.

Farmers in the United States grow approximately 1 million acres of canola
for cooking oil and animal feed.

[www.sacbee.com]

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