The US Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has opened a period of public consultation regarding Verdeca's HB4 soybeans following the creation of draft environmental and pest risk assessments. Verdeca is a joint venture between Bioceres and Arcadia Biosciences, and the company first applied for HB4's US deregulation status in late 2017 (see AgbioNews Dec 7, 2017). The HB4 trait reportedly confers the potential for higher yields through the use of the HaHB4v gene and tolerance to the herbicide glufosinate through the Bar gene.