Shriram Bioseed and KeyGene join forces to develop improved hybrid rice for Indian markets

Shriram Bioseed and KeyGene announce a multi-year strategic co-development research program for development of improved rice hybrids with higher yields, increased tolerance to abiotic stresses, and better grain quality for consumers in India and south east Asia. KeyGene’s innovation platforms will be exploited to boost these important traits in Bioseed’s elite rice germplasm. The program will lead to growth of hybrid rice markets in the region.

Under this partnership both companies will make joint investments. “The aim of this strategic investment is to generate value in rice by incorporating new traits that help vigorous growth of rice with customized preferences for consumers in different parts of India and in the South-East Asian rice market. The end goal is to benefit the rice farmers by providing them with seed of high performing hybrids”, says Arjen van Tunen, CEO of KeyGene.

“We are excited about our extended collaboration with KeyGene and the opportunity of using KeyGene’s proprietary technologies and innovation platforms to develop novel tools specifically for rice which will enable us to improve our products with increased precision and efficiency”, says Dr. Paresh Verma, Director Research at Shriram Bioseed.

About Shriram Bioseed
Shriram Bioseed, the hybrid seed business of DCM Shriram Ltd., is engaged in development, production and marketing of hybrid seeds of several field and vegetable crops. With research stations spread across south and south east Asia, Shriram Bioseed has a strong crop breeding capability for developing hybrids which meet the needs of farmers in the region by combining high yield with various biotic and abiotic stresses. Shriram Bioseed has a strong presence in India, Vietnam, Philippines and Indonesia.