Thousand Oaks, California, USA
January 22, 2016
Ceres, Inc. (Nasdaq:CERE), an agricultural biotechnology company focused on forage crops, has been awarded an Australian patent for a trait that allows growers to increase yields without increasing crop inputs like fertilizer. The patent extends intellectual property protection to the Australian market of a key gene that Ceres has licensed to a multinational crop developer.
The patent covers uses of the gene in crops such as corn, soybean, sorghum, sugarcane, sugarbeet and wheat. Ceres plans to offer seed companies a license to the technology in crops not already licensed. The genetic sequences of the trait were derived from a plant and optimized by Ceres. Experimental results have demonstrated significant yield increases in several plant species. Increases in productivity per acre can have a significant impact on farm income as well as reduce the overall footprint of agricultural production.
Ceres President and CEO Richard Hamilton said that the company was pleased to achieve this award in Australia, which it pursued at the request of its collaboration partner. "We believe that our next-generation traits can provide multiple opportunities for producers to increase productivity, reduce inputs and make greater use of marginal cropland." He noted that agricultural markets have well-established systems to share the value of trait innovations among growers, seed companies and trait developers like Ceres.
The new patent for this invention was issued by IP Australia, the government agency responsible for patents, trademarks, designs and plant breeder's rights, as Patent No. AU 2010276372 B2. The patent is due to expire on July 20, 2030. Ceres owns or maintains exclusive licensed rights to approximately 95 issued patents and numerous pending patent applications in the United States and in various foreign jurisdictions.
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