Cibus Inc., a leading agricultural technology company specializing in gene-edited plant traits, has entered a strategic collaboration with AgVayā, a growth advisory firm focused on agricultural innovation, to introduce advanced gene-editing solutions to India’s rice sector. The partnership aims to scale crop productivity, accelerate breeding timelines, and enable the development of climate-resilient, high-yielding rice varieties critical to India’s agricultural economy and global food security.

India, the world’s second-largest rice producer and largest exporter, cultivates approximately 50 million hectares (125 million acres) of rice. Rice remains a cornerstone of the country’s agriculture, providing both economic stability and regional food security. The collaboration will leverage Cibus’ gene-editing technologies to accelerate trait development, reduce dependence on chemical inputs, and enable more efficient breeding cycles, bringing cutting-edge solutions to the Indian rice seed industry.

Under the agreement, Cibus and AgVayā will work with industry stakeholders, public institutions, and government agencies to develop and commercialize advanced herbicide tolerance and sustainability traits. By integrating these innovations, Indian rice seed companies and research institutions can access modern gene-editing tools that support resilient, high-performing varieties while reducing production costs and environmental impact.

The collaboration builds on Cibus’ global efforts to advance rice innovation, including recent partnerships in Latin America to deploy the HT3 clethodim herbicide tolerance trait in elite germplasm. Together, Cibus and AgVayā aim to accelerate the adoption of next-generation seed technologies in India, enabling scalable improvements in productivity, sustainability, and farmer prosperity across the country’s rice-growing regions.