FGN Futuragene

 

TIDMFGN 
 
 
Futuragene PLC 
11 May 2009 
 
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FUTURAGENE PLC ("FuturaGene" or the "Company") 
 
 
FuturaGene's Wholly Owned Subsidiary, CBD Technologies, Ltd. ("CBD 
Tech") announces that it has entered into a collaborative agreement with 
 
Oregon State University. 
 
 
Rehovoth, Israel 
11 May 2009 
 
 
FuturaGene, 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., 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." 
 
 
FuturaGene Plc 
Mark Pritchard, Chairman     +44 (0) 7802 827 846 
Dr. Stanley Hirsch, Group CEO     +972 544 56 2724 
 
 
Evolution Securities 
Neil Elliot                     +44 (0) 20 7071 4300 
 
 
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". 
 
This information is provided by RNS 
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange 
   END 
 
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