Arcadia Biosciences, an agricultural biotechnology, today said it has received a Department of Defense contract to develop longer-lasting lettuce and tomatoes for U.S. soldiers.

The contract, through the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Center, is valued at $2.9 million and is aimed at providing fresh produce for difficult-to-reach troops.

Arcadia also will commercialize the technology to the general public.

Arcadia will use its proprietary TILLING advanced breeding technology to develop the tomatoes and lettuce for the DoD. The TILLING process identifies the genetic information in plants that carry useful traits.

Arcadia, through its recent acquisition of Anawah Inc., said it has already made "significant progress" in the development of longer-lasting produce, produce with higher nutrient levels, and tomatoes with a higher content of solids using the TILLING technology.

Products developed using TILLING are classified as non-GMO.

"Diets of troops in some of areas are often constrained by the ability to deliver fresh food on a regular basis. Development of longer-lasting produce can help expand the dietary options and improve the morale of soldiers by providing them with good-tasting, nutritious fresh food," said Patrick Dunne, senior science advisor to the US Army Natick Soldier Center DoD Combat Feeding Program.

Research will take place in Arcadia's Seattle research facility, where the company will add technical staff in support of its TILLING product development efforts.