Rehovoth, Israel
May 11, 2009
FuturaGene (“FuturaGene”
or the “Company”), which develops environmentally friendly
solutions that enhance yields and improve the processability of
plants for forestry, biofuels, biopower and agriculture, is
pleased to announce that its wholly owned subsidiary, CBD
Technologies Ltd. (“CBD Tech”), has embarked on a unique
collaboration with Dr. Steven H. Strauss of
Oregon State University
(OSU) under which the company will provide Dr. Strauss’s
research group with a proprietary eucalyptus clone and a highly
efficient eucalyptus transformation protocol developed by CBD
Tech. The collaboration will facilitate rapid and efficient
evaluation of genes for flowering control and other biosafety
aspects of tree modification. Although eucalyptus is the most
widely planted commercial plantation tree species for pulp and
paper production in the world, this species is notoriously
difficult to transform. Thus, the supply of a proprietary clone
and transformation method from the company to a public research
institute, under appropriate material usage and confidentiality
provisions, represents a significant contribution to
accelerating public research and development in this species. In
addition CBD Tech intends to join the Tree Biosafety and
Genomics Research Cooperative (TBGRC), an internationally
recognised tree research consortium that has been working with
forest industries on tree biotechnology for 15 years. It is
directed by Dr. Steven H. Strauss, a Distinguished Professor of
Forest Biotechnology at Oregon State University in the USA.
“We are excited to launch this collaboration with OSU and TBGRC”
said Dr. Ziv Shani, Vice President Research & Development of CBD
Tech. “As a pioneer of plant cell wall modulation technology,
CBD Tech has accumulated a vast knowledge base and experience in
enhancing plant biomass and yield. We have implemented our
technology in eucalyptus and poplar, as well as other crops, and
we are currently conducting several field trials around the
globe. Our collaboration with OSU is an expression of our
commitment to ensure the deployment of ecologically sound and
sustainable yield enhancing technologies in the forestry,
biofuels, biopower and agriculture industries. Dr. Strauss has
been a leader in the development of environmentally responsible
tree
modification technologies for many years and we are proud to be
associated with him. We look forward to providing technology to
Dr. Strauss to accelerate the OSU and TBGRC programs, especially
as they broaden their scope from poplar to eucalyptus.”
Dr. Steven Strauss, Director of TBGRC said: “We are very
interested to begin aggressive studies to improve biosafety and
the productivity of eucalypts. With the eucalypt genome sequence
nearly completed by the US Department of Energy, there are a lot
of fundamental avenues for scientific and technological
advancement that require highly efficient gene transfer methods.
We are anxious to work closely with CBD Tech to adapt their
advanced methods to our laboratory environment.”
About FuturaGene PLC
FGN is a leading agricultural biotechnology company focused on
research, development, and commercialisation of technologies
that play key roles in substantially improving agronomic traits
of value in plants. In particular the Company is focused on the
development and commercialisation of genetically modified plants
for improving and protecting yields, and enhancing
processability and environmental sustainability in the forestry,
biofuels, biopower and agricultural sectors. In addition to its
in-house discovery program, FuturaGene licenses intellectual
property from leading universities in its strategic fields of
interest and is exploiting the synergies of these technologies
with the cell wall modification platform of its wholly owned
subsidiary, CBD Technologies, Inc. (CBD Tech) in forestry,
biofuel, biopower, food and feed crops. CBD Tech has pioneered a
modality for modifying plant cell walls, resulting in enhanced
growth and biomass, increased cellulose, improved fibre
properties, improved digestibility and processability, and
increased yield properties and has secured broad intellectual
property covering plants with modified cell walls showing such
altered properties. More information is available at
www.futuragene.com.
About TBGRC
The Tree Biosafety and Genomics Research Cooperative (TBGRC) was
established in 1993. Its aim is to conduct research, technology
transfer, and education to facilitate responsible uses of
genetically engineered trees in plantations. The TBGRC seeks to
test and develop select innovations, based on progress in
molecular biology and agricultural biotechnology that will
ultimately have commercial value to wood-growing, bioenergy, and
horticultural industries. Research is focused on poplar and
eucalypts as scientific models for genetic engineering and
functional genomic studies. Experiments underway
are aimed at discovery of genes with major value for control of
fertility, flowering onset, crown form, wood quality, and
stature. A key theme of TBGRC research is the identification and
testing of genes that can promote both economic and
environmental benefits. The Director, Dr. Steven H. Strauss, is
a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of
Science and a Distinguished Professor at Oregon State
University. He was recognized as “Forest Biotechnologist of the
Year” in 2009 by the Institute of Forest Biotechnology Partners
(www.forestbiotech.org). The award is “…given to the
forest biotechnologist who best exemplifies responsible uses of
forest biotechnology, and actively promotes science, dialogue,
and stewardship through their work”.
Other news
from
Oregon State University |
|
