USA – Ardent Mills LLC, North America’s leading flour-milling and ingredient company and Arcadia Biosciences, Inc. have announced a new collaboration to develop and commercialize innovative wheat varieties.

According to the companies, the first project focuses on extending the shelf life and improving the flavor of whole wheat products.

The storage life of whole wheat flour can be extended by slowing the enzymatic processes that reduce shelf life using patented Arcadia trait technology.

In addition to reducing waste, the milled flour oxidises more slowly, minimizes bitterness thus helps improve the taste of whole wheat products.

“For several years, we have been investing in this strategy.

We see this trait as a big and important step forward that will benefit bakers, food manufacturers, the food service industry, and ultimately consumers,” said Ardent Mills CEO Dan Dye.

The extended shelf life wheat trait was developed using Arcadia’s proprietary non-GM wheat genetic diversity library.

Due to its non-GM characteristic, the trait has wide application potential across both conventional and organic farming practices.

“This new trait was developed through traditional breeding.

While innovative thinking has brought it this far, further collaboration will continue between Ardent Mills, Arcadia and university partners to bring this trait to commercial reality,” said Shrene White, General Manager, The Annex by Ardent Mills.

Raj Ketkar, president and CEO of Arcadia said: “As the leading flour supplier and grain innovator in North America, Ardent Mills is the ideal partner to bring this technology to the market.

“Wheat is an important source of fiber, protein, nutrients and minerals for consumers throughout the world, and these creative approaches to improving the functional properties of wheat can have a significant impact on the future of whole grain consumption.”

Arcadia Bioscience last month received US patent for extended shelf life wheat trait which is designed to increase whole grain consumption and minimize waste.

The issuance of the US patent further expanded Arcadia’s global patent portfolio, which includes more than 195 patents and patent applications.