Rehovoth, Israel
April 15, 2009
FuturaGene, which
develops environmentally friendly solutions that enhance crop
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 been granted Japanese patent no. 4276780 entitled
“Transgenic plants of altered morphology and the isolated
arabidposis thaliana endo-1,4-beta-glucanase gene,
promoter and protein”. The patent claims, inter alia, transgenic
plants of altered morphology, expressing cellulose binding
domains or endo-1,4-beta-glucanase enzymes, which are cell wall
modifying proteins. The altered morphology includes higher
biomass, faster growth rate, higher yield, higher cellulose
content, more amenable for digestion by ruminants or increased
resistance to heat, biodegradation or pests.
Dr. Stanley Hirsch, Group CEO of FuturaGene said “This patent
consolidates our global intellectual property position in the
critical area of cell wall modification, which is a fundamental
technology for yield enhancement in plants. This is highly
significant for the sustainable industrial forestry, biofuel and
biopower sectors. Japan is home to some of the world’s largest
pulp and paper producers, enhancing the significance of this
patent.”
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. 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
Innovative Solutions For Global Agricultural Needs TM owned
subsidiary, CBD Technologies, Inc. (CBD Tech) in forestry,
biofuel, food and feed crops.
CBD Tech has pioneered a modality for altered cell walls,
resulting in enhanced growth and biomass, increased cellulose,
improved fiber 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. |
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