Ardmore, Oklahoma and
Limburgerhof, Germany
November 24, 2008
The
Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation and
BASF Plant Science
today announced a research collaboration to enhance crop
productivity. The collaboration’s aim is to develop traits that
help improve plants’ health and yield by using a model plant,
Medicago truncatula (commonly called barrel medic).
Researchers at the Noble Foundation, which is a leader in
Medicago genetics, will seek to develop traits for conveying
yield stability and disease resistance in select crops whereas
BASF Plant Science receives exclusive options on specific Noble
Foundation research findings. Financial terms of the agreement
were not disclosed.
“The Noble Foundation is excited to work with BASF Plant
Science, a pacesetter in agricultural biotechnology, to develop
solutions against diseases affecting the world’s agricultural
producers,” said Richard Dixon, D. Phil., Senior Vice President
and Director of the Plant Biology Division at the Noble
Foundation. “This collaboration was only possible due to our
Board’s strategic investment in Medicago research.”
The collaboration’s research will be lead by Kirankumar Mysore,
Ph.D., Associate Professor and co-principal investigator
Srinivasa Rao Uppalapati, Ph.D., both with the Plant Biology
Division of the Noble Foundation. Mysore and his research team
are generating genetic resources in Medicago and possess
extensive experience in plant science research.
“The Noble Foundation is recognized worldwide for its broad
research spectrum on plant improvement to enhance agricultural
productivity,” said Dr. Juergen Schweden, Vice President,
Research and Development at BASF Plant Science. “Our current
agreement will help to meet the increasing demand for
agricultural output by securing the yield of crops worldwide.”
BASF Plant Science’s efforts align with the Noble Foundation’s
mission to assist farmers and ranchers. The Noble Foundation
performs fundamental plant science research, plant breeding and
agricultural programs, such as consultation and education, to
achieve its objective.
The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc., headquartered in
Ardmore, Okla., is an independent, nonprofit institute
conducting plant science research, plant breeding and
agricultural programs to enhance agricultural productivity,
which influences agriculture regionally, nationally and
internationally. The Noble Foundation also provides grants to
nonprofit charitable, educational and health organizations.
BASF, the Chemical Company, consolidated its plant biotechnology
activities in BASF Plant Science in 1998. Today, about 700
employees at BASF Plant Science work to optimize crops for more
efficient agriculture, renewable raw materials and healthier
nutrition. Projects include increasing yield in key grain crops
such as corn, rice and soybeans, higher content of Omega-3s in
oil crops to help prevent cardiovascular disease, and potatoes
with optimized starch composition for industrial use. To find
out more about BASF Plant Science, please visit
www.basf.com/plantscience.
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