BioWorks, Inc. announced today the signing of an equity and exclusive option agreement for technology licensing with Forage Genetics, Inc. of West Salem, Wisconsin. In exchange for an investment in BioWorks, Forage Genetics receives an equity interest and an exclusive option for rights to certain technologies controlled by BioWorks related to alfalfa. These technologies currently include genes that protect plants from disease under rights licensed to BioWorks from the Cornell Research Foundation, Inc. As an equity owner in BioWorks, Forage Genetics will have exclusive rights to commercialize the technologies in alfalfa.

"I’m very pleased that our discussions with Forage Genetics have progressed to the signing of this agreement. It represents a major step forward for BioWorks in bringing its disease protection technology to alfalfa producers," says Bill Foster, president & CEO of BioWorks, Inc.

"Forage Genetics is looking forward to working with BioWorks in applying its proprietary genetic technology to improve the agronomic traits that add value to alfalfa. We think the potential is tremendous," says Dr. Mark McCaslin, president of Forage Genetics.

BioWorks, Inc., a privately held company, is a leading supplier to the agriculture industry of biological control products and biotechnologies that enhance plant health, plant productivity and consumer and worker safety.

Forage Genetics, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Research Seeds, Inc. of St. Joseph, Mo., is an industry leader in the research, development and marketing of value-added technologies for the alfalfa industry. Research Seeds is recognized as a worldwide leader in the development, production and marketing of proprietary forage and turf seed.

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