|
KeyGene, the Green Gene revolution goes America
May 2010
KeyGene is the largest European Agro Biotech company and decided
in 2007 to found a subsidiary in the USA, Keygene Inc. KeyGene’s
Green Gene approach is to focus on the use of Advanced Molecular
Breeding & Molecular Mutagenesis to genetically improve traits
of commercial interest in the 6F (food, feed, fiber, fuel,
flowers and fun) crops. Headquartered in Rockville, Maryland,
Keygene Inc., was setup to expand on KeyGene’s excellent crop
breeding research. An Michiels, CEO Keygene Inc.: “We saw the
opportunities in Applied Systems Biology and Plant Breeding that
are present in the US, and wanted to extend our collaboration
with American research institutes, universities and companies”.
Investing in existing relationships
An Michiels:”KeyGene is a developer of new breeding technologies
and we have been involved in several collaborations in the US
over the past 20 years. Our subsidiary in the US brings KeyGene
closer to several of its partners, improves our relations and
fine tunes the collaborations even further”. In May 2008,
KeyGene started a long-term collaborative program with the
Beltsville Agricultural Research Service unit of the United
States Department of Agriculture (USDA-ARS). In this program
KeyGene’s advanced genetic fingerprinting technology is used in
combination with USDA’s metabolomics and breeding expertise.
This program has the aim to develop bell pepper cultivars with
improved taste characteristics.
 |
The staff
|
Scientific excellence
Maryland is a hub of molecular biology and biotechnology
research. KeyGene not only benefits from this, but also
contributes to the excellent research in this region as well.
With KeyGene’s advanced molecular breeding technologies
accelerating the crop breeding research, we attract excellent
scientists in the field of applied systems biology and
bioinformatics. For instance Anne Deslattes-Mays and her group
is developing new information and bioinformatics computer
programs, algorithms and selection procedures to identify
potential candidate genes and gene networks from Brassica
napus and Maize that are involved in yield increase and
abiotic stresses.
New corporate partnerships and future traits
KeyGene also aims at developing new partnerships. Combining its
expertise and knowledge of the Dutch site with the experience in
bioinformatics and data analysis of Keygene Inc., the company is
an excellent partner for new collaborations seeking excellence
in plant breeding. With programs like ‘Dare to Share’, KeyGene
has experience with knowledge sharing in research
collaborations. The start of the US subsidiary already resulted
in a number of fruitful relationships and Keygene Inc. aspires
engaging new collaborations, not only in the US public sector
but also in the private breeding industry. In January 2010,
KeyGene entered in a trait development agreement with
AgroSciences LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical
Company, to asses the use of Zinc Fingers to improve the yield
of tomatoes. Today KeyGene’s US division has grown to 7
employees, a number which will definitely increase in the
future. The company has an ever increasing expertise in
bioinformatics. In the coming years, KeyGene’s portfolio will
expand towards other field crops like sunflower and wheat.
Traits like draught resistance and insect or viral resistance
will become increasingly important. An Michiels: “We will
further develop our expertise in Applied Systems Biology and
data analysis thus actively contributing to the Green Gene
Revolution”.
For more information please contact:
An Michiels
CEO
Keygene Inc.
Rockville Innovation Center – Suite 405
155 Gibbs Street
Rockville, MD 20850, USA
T +1 240 205 7083
E am@keygene-inc.com
|
