US-based Cibus to provide gene editing tech to Indian rice seed industry
US-based Cibus Inc will provide its gene editing technologies in partnership with industry and government stakeholders in India to the seed sector.
A statement from the company, based in San Diego, stated that it has entered into an agreement with Mumbai-based AgVaya, a strategic growth advisory firm that partners lead innovators to develop strategies and solutions for the Indian agriculture market.
Through this agreement, Cibus and AgVayā will together work to develop a comprehensive strategy to expand Cibus’ presence in India, partnering with companies, institutions, and government stakeholders to tackle key challenges in the rice industry.
The collaboration will focus on enabling joint development and commercialisation of advanced herbicide and sustainability traits, creating opportunities for Indian rice seed companies and public agencies to integrate cutting-edge gene editing solutions, said the statement.
By leveraging its gene-editing technologies, Cibus aims to accelerate breeding timelines in India by more than a decade, make modern seed technologies more accessible, and reduce dependence on pesticides, all in support of developing climate-resilient, high-yielding rice seed varieties adapted to evolving agronomic and environmental conditions worldwide.
“Together, the companies will define market strategies, build partnerships, and accelerate the introduction of Cibus’ gene editing technologies into India’s rice seed industry, supporting the development of more resilient and productive rice varieties that are critical to both India’s agricultural economy and the global rice supply,” Cibus said in the statement on its website.
Cibus, in partnership with AgVayā, will address some of the country’s biggest agricultural challenges in rice, while inviting R&D and commercial collaborations to accelerate the impact.
“India is the world’s second-largest producer and the largest exporter of rice, with approximately 50 million hectares under cultivation. As a cornerstone of Indian agriculture and a critical contributor to the national economy and food security across Asia, rice presents both enormous opportunities and pressing challenges,” it said.
Modern gene editing technologies create solutions to drive affordable costs, accelerate the breeding cycle, and lower dependence on pesticides, the US firm said.
“This partnership represents a significant milestone for Cibus as we work to extend our innovative gene editing technologies to support one of the world’s most important rice-producing regions,” said Peter Beetham, co-founder and Interim CEO of Cibus.
Sekhar Natarajan, Partner of AgVayā, said, “…we aim to accelerate the adoption of these technologies, driving scalable, long-term improvements that strengthen India’s rice industry and support global food security.”
This agreement follows Cibus’ recent announcement of a material transfer agreement with Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), in collaboration with the Latin American Fund for Irrigated Rice (FLAR), to introduce Cibus’ HT3 clethodim herbicide tolerance trait into elite rice germplasm for Latin America.
Published on October 17, 2025
