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Sao Paulo, Brazil – Wednesday, May 29, 2013 – FuturaGene, a world leader in the enhancement of yield and sustainability of woody crops for plantation forestry, biopower and biofuel markets, has entered into an agreement with the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, world’s largest independent nonprofit research institute focused on plant science, which will see FuturaGene’s plant yield-enhancing technology tested on staple crops grown by farmers in Asia, Africa and Brazil.
Yield enhancement technology will be tested first on model plants and if successful, the technology will be transferred to specific food crops. The aim is to provide increased food security to small and subsistence farmers, particularly in arid and semi-arid parts of these geographies. Specifically, the Danforth Center’s modifications using FuturaGene´s technology will seek to increase plant biomass levels and make crops more valuable as feed for animals.
Commenting on the announcement, Eugenio Ulian, FuturaGene VP Regulatory Affairs, said:
“This collaboration with the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center represents a great opportunity to apply a technology that has been proven in planted forestry to be evaluated in crops which are important for food security in some of the poorest regions of the world.
“We have a deep-seated belief that sustainability must be made available across the full spectrum of our activities, tying in technology practices with responsible socio-economic models.”
Dr. Paul Anderson, Director of the Institute for International Crop Improvement at the Danforth Center, added:
“We appreciate the willingness of FuturaGene to share their technology for humanitarian applications for improvement of food security. We look forward to collaborating for the evaluation of the technology for enhancing orphan crop productivity.”
FuturaGene’s yield enhancement technology has already been extensively tested in eucalyptus and poplar, with FuturaGene running several GM plantation trials worldwide.
About FuturaGene - www.futuragene.com
FuturaGene, with facilities in Brazil, China and Israel is a leader in plant genetic research and development for the global forestry, biopower and biofuel markets. FuturaGene develops sustainable, ecologically sound technology to meet the ever increasing demands for fiber, fuel and energy crops in the face of declining land and water resources.
FuturaGene’s crop development is focused through two main technology platforms: yield and processability enhancement - driving gains in yield during crop growth and greater processability of crop, post-harvest; and yield protection to protect strategic crops from emerging threats caused by changing climate and diminishing resources and to enable marginal land usage.
FuturaGene’s key crops are eucalyptus and poplar and its most advanced technologies are for yield improvement in sustainable industrial forestry. FuturaGene has fully integrated capabilities from gene sourcing and discovery, through development and in-house regulatory capability, large scale field trial capacity to market channels and captive off-take. It is uniquely positioned as one of the few biotech companies, outside of the “majors”, which has taken a new trait from the lab to late stage regulatory development.
Since July 2010, FuturaGene has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Suzano Pulp and Paper, a leading integrated forestry, pulp and paper company in Brazil. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Suzano, FuturaGene continues its worldwide biotech activities with enhanced resources to maintain its position as a world leader in sustainable plant genetic research and development.
About the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
Founded in 1998, the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is a not-for-profit research institute with a mission to improve the human condition through plant science. Research at the Danforth Center will feed the hungry and improve human health, preserve and renew the environment, and enhance the St. Louis region and Missouri as a world center for plant science. The Center’s work is funded through competitive grants and contract revenue from many sources, including the U.S. Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, United States Department of Agriculture, U.S. Agency for International Development and the Bill & Melinda Gates and Howard Buffett Foundations.
The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center invites you to visit its website, http://www.danforthcenter.org, featuring interactive information on the Center’s research, scientists, news and public education outreach. RSS feeds and the brand new “Roots & Shoots” blog allow visitors to keep up to date with Center’s current operations and areas of research.
For additional information please contact:
Dr Stanley Hirsch
Group CEO, FuturaGene
stanley@futuragene.com
+34 637 45 77 08
Eugenio Cesar Ulian
VP Regulatory Affairs, FuturaGene
eugenio@futuragene.com
+55 11 3503 9795
Sara El Kadri
Communications and Public Relations, FuturaGene
sara.kadri@futuragene.com
+55 19 2108 3563
Dr Christelle Kerouedan/Henry Stanley
College Hill
futuragene@collegehill.com
+44 20 7866 7868
Karla Roeber
VP of Public and Government Affairs
Danforth Center
kroeber@danforthcenter.org
+1 314 587 1231
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