May 28, 2008

BASF signs research contract with Taiwanese institute on corn genes
 

BASF said it has entered into a research cooperation with Taiwan's Academia Sinica to jointly discover genes that increase yield and improve stress tolerance in crops such as rice and corn.

As part of the agreement, Taipei-based Academia Sinica will analyse rice genes while BASF will develop GM rice plants and other crops with improved yields, BASF said in a statement, without disclosing financial terms.

The duration of the deal has been set for two years, the German chemicals giant said.

The agreement is BASF's third research alliance on plant genetics with Asian institutes over the past eight months.