Dow AgroSciences, DPI Develop Unique Technology Platform for the Improvement of Canola and Wheat Varieties

Dow AgroSciences, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company (Dow), the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) of the State of Victoria, and Sangamo BioSciences, Inc. (SGMO), announced the achievement of a unique state-of-the-art platform for the improvement of canola and wheat varieties.

Researchers from Dow AgroSciences, DPI's Biosciences Research Division, and Sangamo BioSciences have completed the development of the EXZACT(TM) Precision Technology platform for both canola and wheat. Through this collaborative effort, EXZACT(TM), which Dow AgroSciences has developed under an exclusive license for the use in plants through an agreement with Sangamo BioSciences, has integrated new delivery and analytical technologies into a platform for the efficient and precise development of traits in crops.

"This opens the doors to rapidly improving desired traits by the direct enhancement of the genetics of current commercial varieties and then the breeding of these important crops to make improved varieties," said Daniel R. Kittle, Ph.D., Vice President, Research and Development of Dow AgroSciences. "The EXZACT(TM) Precision Technology platform may also facilitate the development of new varieties by the introduction and/or removal of genetic information at very precise and pre-chosen locations in the plant genome for specific trait development. The quality and speed of the development of the EXZACT(TM) platforms for canola and wheat was only possible because of the dedication and creativity enabled by the close working relationship between our organizations, and we look forward to these efforts being deployed toward the common goal of developing new and improved solutions for these crops."

The EXZACT(TM) platform that has been developed will allow crop scientists and plant breeders to make precise improvements to the genetics of canola and wheat that will benefit growers around the world.

"Dow AgroSciences is a global leader in agricultural biotechnology and its commitment to research and development of technology solutions for agriculture makes it an ideal collaboration partner for our DPI scientists," said Professor German Spangenberg, Executive Director of Biosciences Research in DPI. "The development of this unique technology platform for precision trait improvement in canola and wheat represents a wonderful outcome of these collaborative efforts and combined innovation capacity. Its deployment will lead to enhanced genetics in these major crops of great importance for Australian grain growers."

Financial details of this transaction were not disclosed.