Before the open, Yield10 Bioscience (YTEN) announced it is granting a non-exclusive research license to Monsanto (MON) to evaluate its novel C3003 and C3004 yield traits in soybean.

Under the license, Monsanto plans to research both traits within its soybean pipeline as a strategy to improve plant yields. Yield10's "Smart Carbon Grid for Plants" advanced metabolic engineering technology platform incorporates sourcing of new metabolic functionality from non-plant systems with sophisticated models of carbon-flux pathways to identify gene targets that enhance carbon capture from photosynthesis and regulate the flow of carbon to seed. Derived from algae, C3003 represents the lead plant trait in this platform. C3004, another platform trait, is believed to play a role in carbon partitioning. Monsanto plans to conduct research with C3003 and C3004 individually and in combination to evaluate the effectiveness of the trait stack.

Shares of Yield10 Bioscience were up 180% at $5.47 heading into the close, after briefly rising above $8 per share in early trading.