Cibus and Interoc Advance Rice Commercialization Strategy for Herbicide-Tolerant Traits in Key Markets across Latin America

Core Viewpoint - Cibus, Inc. and Interoc have executed a non-binding Letter of Intent (LOI) to establish a framework for the commercialization of co-developed herbicide-tolerant (HT) rice traits in Latin America, with an initial market entry planned for Ecuador and Colombia in 2027, followed by expansion into Peru, Central America, and the Caribbean [1][4]. Group 1: Agreement and Market Strategy - The non-exclusive agreement outlined in the LOI signifies a major step towards full commercialization from the research and development collaboration initiated in January 2024 [2]. - The LOI anticipates that Interoc will market high-performing rice hybrids and varieties developed using Cibus' Rapid Trait Development System™ (RTDS™), addressing critical weed management needs in Latin America [3][4]. - The companies aim to achieve robust market share in the regions where the HT trait is commercialized, targeting accelerated trait adoption [4]. Group 2: Technological and Agricultural Context - Cibus has successfully integrated HT traits into Interoc's elite rice germplasm, which is now advancing to real-world field evaluations [2][5]. - The first traits for the rice market are two distinct herbicide tolerances, HT1 and HT3, which have been assessed in multi-location field trials across multiple seasons in the United States [5]. - The collaboration aims to provide new tools for Latin American growers to manage resistant weeds and protect yields, leveraging modern genomic techniques like gene editing [4][6]. Group 3: Company Profiles - Cibus is a leader in developing traits that address productivity, yield, and sustainability challenges, utilizing high-throughput gene-editing technologies to develop plant traits efficiently [7]. - Interoc specializes in research and development of crop protection technologies and high-performance hybrid seeds, with over 30 years of experience in the Latin American agricultural sector [8].