Cibus (CBUS) and Interoc Collaborate to Advance Rice Commercialization Strategy in Latin America
SAN DIEGO, Jan. 5, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cibus, Inc. (Nasdaq: CBUS), an innovative agricultural technology company, has partnered with Interoc, a leading agricultural solutions provider in Latin America, to enhance commercialization efforts for herbicide-tolerant (HT) rice traits. Their collaboration is encapsulated in a newly executed non-binding Letter of Intent (LOI), aiming for potential entry into the Ecuador and Colombia markets by 2027, with future expansions to Peru, Central America, and the Caribbean.
Details of the Non-Binding Agreement
The LOI signifies a critical transition from research and development to commercial execution, building on a successful material transfer agreement established in 2024. Through this agreement, Cibus has successfully integrated HT traits into Interoc’s elite rice germplasm, which is advancing to field evaluations.
Peter Beetham, Ph.D., Co-founder and Interim CEO of Cibus, commented, “This commercial agreement marks the progression of our collaboration. With a strong technical foundation in place, we can now advance this important weed-management technology for rice growers in the region.”
Targeting Key Markets for Herbicide-Tolerant Rice Traits
The LOI outlines the intention for Interoc to market high-performance rice hybrids and varieties developed using Cibus’ Rapid Trait Development System™ (RTDS™). This initiative aims to address critical weed and resistance management needs and is particularly timely, given the increasing challenges posed by resistant weeds.
Implications for Latin American Farmers
Fernando De La Puente, Corporate Vice President at Interoc, emphasized the urgency for tools to combat resistant weeds. He stated, “This LOI positions us to expand our trait portfolio and move aggressively to market. By leveraging modern genomic techniques like gene editing, we are committed to enhancing productivity for farmers.”
Phased Market Expansion Planned
Negotiations toward a definitive licensing and marketing agreement will commence soon, with anticipated commercial sales initiated in Ecuador and Colombia by 2027. Following this initial launch, the companies aim for a phased expansion into additional Latin American markets including:
- Peru
- Panama
- Bolivia
- Nicaragua
- Dominican Republic
- Belize
- Costa Rica
Cibus continues to focus on increasing its market share in areas where the HT traits are introduced, striving for accelerated adoption among rice growers.
About Cibus
Cibus is a leader in developing plant traits that address vital productivity, yield, and sustainability challenges. Utilizing proprietary gene-editing technologies, Cibus develops plant traits quickly and efficiently, allowing for licensing to customers in exchange for royalties. The company uniquely positions itself not as a seed company but as a technology company driving agricultural advancements.
About Interoc
Interoc specializes in agricultural research and development, focusing on crop protection technologies and high-performance hybrid seeds throughout Latin America. With over 30 years of experience, the company aims to improve productivity and sustainability in agriculture, continually aligning innovations with farmers' needs.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements as defined by securities laws, including expectations regarding future agreements between Cibus and Interoc. Risks and uncertainties exist which may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected herein, such as the challenges in achieving definitive agreements and competition within the market.