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Oakland, California
December 21, 2000
Bionova Holding Corporation
(Amex: BVA) announced today key pieces of its genomics program in plant
biotechnology that leverages the recently completed genome sequence of
Arabidopsis thaliana.
As part of its new technology initiative, Bionova Holding is developing
commercial traits for crop protection and improved nutrition based on analysis
of altered gene expression in Arabidopsis. Bionova Holding uses leading edge
transcript profiling tools and its plant biology expertise to transform genes
from companies such as Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. into useable traits for the
food and fiber production industries. Bionova Holding's parent, Savia S.A. de
C.V., has worldwide exclusive rights to key gene discoveries from Mendel
Biotechnology for use in creating commercial traits in fruits and vegetables.
"A key advantage of Bionova Holding's new technology platform is our superior
plant biology experience and extensive intellectual property rights for
research and commercialization," said Bernardo Jimenez, CEO of Bionova
Holding. "With access to discoveries from many sources, our program is one of
the best positioned platforms for crop protection traits in agricultural
biotechnology."
Under an agreement between Mendel Biotechnology and Savia, Bionova Holding
receives for evaluation functionally characterized Arabidopsis plants in which
the expression of transcription factor genes has been increased or decreased.
Mendel Biotechnology, a leader in the application of functional genomics to
plant transcription factors, recently announced its scientists had identified
the complete set of transcription factor genes in Arabidopsis. "We are very
pleased that Bionova Holding is advancing Mendel's discoveries to market.
Bionova Holding has the expertise needed to convert genomics discoveries into
products," said David Summa, President and CEO of Mendel Biotechnology. In one of Bionova Holding's strategies to develop improved plant
protection traits, its scientists subject Arabidopsis plants received from
Mendel to pathogens responsible for major economic losses in production
agriculture in order to understand patterns of gene expression underlying
disease resistance mechanisms. By analyzing where, when and to what extent
disease resistance pathways are expressed, Bionova seeks to devise new ways to
effectively manage plant disease resistance in food and fiber production with
fewer chemical inputs.
Arabidopsis thaliana is a model plant that is providing plant biologists
with insight into crop production, nutrition and human disease. Plant
transcription factors are a class of regulatory genes that control the
expression of sets of genes resulting in significant changes in plant
characteristics. Transcription factors control entire genetic networks and
are responsible for all aspects of plant growth and development.
Bionova Holding seeks to be the leading developer of prototype and
commercial crop traits by industrializing the process of trait validation
through gene expression profiling, bioinformatics and improved control of
plant characteristics. By combining gene access and genomics tools with a
bioinformatics platform, advanced gene expression tools and efficient trait
evaluation techniques, Bionova Holding intends to develop improved genetics
that deliver proven trait value to customers. Bionova Holding is solidifying
its position in trait genomics through alliances with companies that
complement its capabilities. Through determining the function of genes in
simple experimental organisms, Bionova Holding is pursuing the discovery and
validation of gene leads that deliver resistance to economically important
insect and nematode pests and fungal diseases in production agriculture.
These novel traits will be validated in target crops and licensed for use in
elite germplasm in horticultural and agronomic crops. Further, as an aging
population increasingly recognizes the role of diet and nutrition in health
maintenance, fruits and vegetables remain an important means to deliver
improved nutrition to consumers. Bionova Holding seeks to be a leading
provider of plant-based technology to improve the nutrition and health-promoting components of foods. Additionally, Bionova Holding is
developing its trait genomics platform to provide industrialized trait
development capacity to customers in support of biotechnology products and
crop-protection chemical discovery.
Bionova Holding Corporation is a leading biotechnology company providing
unique capabilities focused on crop protection traits, pesticide discovery,
nutraceutical and biotechnology-derived foods through high-efficiency gene
profiling, bioinformatics and expertise in plant biology. Bionova Holding and
its subsidiaries have strategic alliances and licensing agreements with some
of the world's leading agricultural companies, with affiliates, including
Seminis Vegetable Seeds, Inc., with value-added producers and marketers, and
with biotechnology research groups. Bionova Holding Corporation is majority
owned by Mexico's SAVIA, S.A. de C.V. (NYSE: VAI), whose subsidiaries include
the world's largest vegetable seed company.
Company news release
N3216 |
