Pioneer Hi-Bred International and USDA are working to develop low-phytate corn after following the work on genes realised by Victor Raboy from USDA Aberdeen, ID. More than 20 mutations on corn, and others in rice and barley have been made to reduce the amount of phosphorus stored in the plant as phytic acid. The most promising mutant reduce the phytic acid by 2/3 with no reduction in the phosphorus content and up to now no problems have been found with the seeds. A research project is also conducted at the University of Minnesota on the management and culture of the low-phytate corn. Corn with more available phosphorus would reduce the phosphorus in the manure. Researchers hope that the phosphorus content of the manure obtained from pigs fed those hybrids could lowered from 30lb./1000gal. to 16lb./1000 gal.
According to the Pioneer officials, the low-phytic acid corn hybrid could be ready for commercial production in 2 to 3 years.

These changes in the phosphorus availability in plants are very interesting because the nutrients control is higher in the feeding chain. The yield obtained and cost of the seed should however be consider compare to phytase.