Agreement with Chinese forestry academy
09 Setembro 2009 - 3:00AM
UK Regulatory
TIDMFGN
RNS Number : 7280Y
Futuragene PLC
09 September 2009
FUTURAGENE PLC
FuturaGene to develop enhanced poplar for the Chinese biofuel and biopower
markets
9 September 2009. Rehovoth, Israel. FuturaGene PLC, ("FuturaGene" or "the
Group", AIM: FGN), a leader in plant genetic research and development for
global forestry, biofuel and agricultural markets, has entered into an Agreement
with the Chinese Academy of Forestry ("CAF") to develop new enhanced poplar with
increased yield, processability and abiotic stress characteristics for the
Chinese domestic market.
Futuragene will provide proprietary genes and technical assistance to Professor
Liwang Qi, Chief Expert on Silva Genetics at CAF in Beijing. The programme aims
at improving yield, drought and salt tolerance of short-rotation poplar for the
biofuel and biomass markets.
Woodchip from poplar produced in sustainable, renewable plantations provides a
carbon-neutral fuel source for co-firing coal-burning power stations,
significantly reducing environmental damage. Poplar is also being developed for
the production of second generation cellulose-to-ethanol biofuel. The rapid
growth rate of poplar makes this species an ideal candidate for renewable
biomass for energy production reducing the need to use food crops as a raw
material for liquid fuel production.
In addition to development work, field trials and regulatory authorisation will
be carried out by CAF. Both parties will have joint rights for commercialisation
of varieties produced under the Agreement in the Chinese domestic market.
This Agreement is the second collaboration between FuturaGene and CAF. The first
agreement was signed in 2007 and aimed at improving yield, processability and
disease resistance of eucalyptus trees.
Dr. Stanley Hirsch, Group Chief Executive of FuturaGene commented:
"We are delighted to be extending our relationship with CAF, following the
productive start to our initial eucalyptus-focused collaboration agreement. This
agreement on poplar is strategically important to our global initiatives in the
development of this crop for biopower and second generation biofuel production.
"Poplar is widely used in China as a structural wood, for fibre and to reverse
desertification. There is increasing interest in utilising poplar as a carbon
neutral biomass for renewable energy. As China is currently one of the largest
users of coal, the introduction of poplar as an energy source for
combustion, potentially has a substantial global environmental benefit.
"Professor Qi has been a significant contributor to poplar research in China and
we are sure that this new partnership will bring mutual benefit to both
parties."
Professor Liwang Qi added
"We are confident that Futuragene's technologies can make a significant
contribution to the improvement of poplar varieties in China and are pleased to
have this opportunity to work closely with them."
Contact:
+-------------------------------------+------------------------------+
| FuturaGene Plc | |
+-------------------------------------+------------------------------+
| Mark Pritchard, Chairman | +44 (0) 7802 827 846 |
+-------------------------------------+------------------------------+
| Dr. Stanley Hirsch, Group Chief | +972 544 56 2724 |
| Executive | |
+-------------------------------------+------------------------------+
| | |
+-------------------------------------+------------------------------+
| Evolution Securities | |
+-------------------------------------+------------------------------+
| Neil Elliot | +44 (0) 20 7071 4300 |
+-------------------------------------+------------------------------+
| | |
+-------------------------------------+------------------------------+
| College Hill | +44 (0)20 7457 2020 |
+-------------------------------------+------------------------------+
| Adrian Duffield/Rozi Morris | |
+-------------------------------------+------------------------------+
Note to Editors:
Information on Poplar
Poplars are one of the most commonly planted species of tree in China. Poplar
wood is used for plywood, veneer and structural timber. As this species is fast
growing, it is finding increasing use in reafforestation of deserts. Poplar
plantations extended over 4.3 million hectares in 2007 (FAO). According to
GMO-Safety (a biosafety research portal run on behalf of the German Federal
Ministry of Education and Research), China intends to reforest an area of
approximately 17 million hectares by the year 2012. In addition, adoption of
woodchip co-firing programs for coal fired power stations in China could
significantly add to the demand for poplar wood.
About FuturaGene PLCwww.futuragene.com.
FGN is a leading agricultural biotechnology company focused on research,
development and commercialization of technologies that provide solutions for
agriculture in a changing planet. FGN's technologies play key roles in
substantially improving and protecting yields, enhancing processability and
environmental sustainability in the forestry, biofuels, biopower and
agricultural sectors.
In addition to its in-house discovery programme, FuturaGene licenses
intellectual property from leading universities in its strategic fields of
interest and develops these technologies in its strategic crops. FGN has
established numerous commercial and academic partnerships and out licenses to
bring its technologies to market. FGN's most advanced technologies for yield
improvement in sustainable industrial forestry have successfully completed field
trials and are in regulatory phases prior to commercial deployment.
About the Chinese Academy of Forestry
The Chinese Academy of Forestry (CAF) was founded in 1958 based on the former
Central Research Institute of Forestry established in 1953. Its present
president is Chen Tong'ai. The academy now has over 4,400 staff, including
researchers, engineers, and technicians, involved in more than 150 disciplines
and is authorized advanced academic degrees in a number of fields. Having
research offices and satellite institutions in a number of sites around China as
well as more than 60,000 hectares of experimental lands, CAF is the mainstream
of tree development in China
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
AGRSSMFIASUSELU
Futuragene (LSE:FGN)
Gráfico Histórico do Ativo
De Mai 2024 até Jun 2024
Futuragene (LSE:FGN)
Gráfico Histórico do Ativo
De Jun 2023 até Jun 2024
Notícias em tempo-real sobre Futuragene da Bolsa de Valores de Londres bolsa de valores: 0 artigos recentes
Mais Notícias de Futuragene