January 13, 2010
Monsanto, Stokes Bio sign license agreement for gene analysis technology
Press Release
Monsanto and Limerick-based biotechnology firm, Stokes Bio Limited have entered into a licensing agreement and R&D collaboration, which is expected to help accelerate the pace of new advancements in plant breeding.
Under the agreement, Monsanto has exclusive rights to Stokes Bio's patented technology for use in agriculture.
In plant breeding, genotyping or gene analysis is used to identify the seeds or plants with desirable characteristics, such as better yield or disease resistance. Currently, gene analysis is limited by the number of samples that can be processed at one time and the turnaround time per sample.
Stokes Bio's system utilises microfluidic technology that can provide the same evaluations using smaller sample sizes, as little as 1/1000th of what is currently required – which continually flow through the system in nanolitre-size droplets.
The instrument can evaluate up to 100,000 data points per hour, efficient than the currently-used methods of gene analysis. It is capable of generating more data faster, using less sample and reagent, and at a lower cost than existing technologies.
Stokes Bio will deliver a number of these next-generation genotyping instruments to Monsanto next year.
According to Bob Reiter, vice president of breeding technology in Monsanto, more efficient gene analysis allows the company to leverage this knowledge in their technology pipeline and offer farmer customers innovative products that boost productivity on the farm.
"The new technology has applications in areas ranging from plant genetics through the entire spectrum of human healthcare," said Mark Davies, co-founder of Stokes Bio.
Stokes Bio is established in 2005 by Mark Davies and Tara Dalton, financed from Kernel Capital, a spin-off company from the Stokes Institute at University of Limerick.
Monsanto company is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products.
