Dow AgroSciences LLC and Chromatin Inc. announced they have entered into two agreements for the research and licensing of crop technologies.
The first agreement provides Dow with rights to Chromatin's Mini-Chromosome technology and the second establishes an exclusive research and license agreement to combine EXZACT Precision Technology with Mini-Chromosomes, creating a novel technology platform for the development of next generation traits in corn, soy and canola.
''One of the most critical challenges facing the plant biotechnology industry is the production of cost-competitive multi-gene and stacked trait products,'' said Dan Kittle, Ph.D., vice president R&D for Dow AgroSciences. ''Today, there are two technical solutions to multi-gene stacking, pathway engineering and simplified plant breeding in plants. Those technical solutions are site-specific genome modification and building of customized chromosomes.''
Dow AgroSciences' EXZACT Precision Technology provides a versatile and comprehensive toolkit for targeted genome modification on plants. Its demonstrated ability to specifically and efficiently target plant genome sequences delivers a means for engineering multi-gene stacks, editing native genes and deleting undesirable traits.
Chromatin's Mini-Chromosomes are autonomous genetic elements built to deliver multiple traits of importance to growers, processors, and consumers and to accelerate the development and launch of new products.
Combining Mini-Chromosomes and EXZACT Precision Technology will create a technology synergy that delivers flexibility and efficiencies for modifying trait combinations on the mini-chromosome, inside the plant, in real time.
Kittle said, ''When we combine these two technologies, we will provide product developers with added flexibility. This new platform will allow for the modification or updating of existing trait stacks on the mini-chromosome without needing to engineer from the ground up.''
''The collaboration between Chromatin and Dow AgroSciences can provide product developers with the ability to get products to the market faster and at a lower cost,'' said Daphne Preuss, CEO for Chromatin.
Further details of the agreement were not disclosed.
Chromatin Inc. develops and markets novel proprietary technology that enables entire chromosomes to be designed and incorporated into plant cells. These mini-chromosomes can be used in any plant to simultaneously introduce multiple genes while maintaining precise control of gene expression. Chromatin's Mini-Chromosome technology can be used to deliver genes that benefit the agricultural, nutritional, energy, pharmaceutical, and chemical sectors.
Dow AgroSciences LLC, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, US, is an agricultural company that provides innovative technologies for crop protection, pest and vegetation management, seeds, traits.
