Dow, NemGenix establish collaboration on nematode- resistant crops

Date:07-17-2009

Dow AgroSciences LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, and NemGenix, a Perth-based biotechnology company, announced today a newly established collaboration agreement to pursue novel technologies to produce nematode- resistant crops.

The collaboration will support a number of full-time researchers at NemGenix’s facilities in Perth. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

“This exciting collaboration capitalizes on the strengths of both Dow AgroSciences and NemGenix to develop next-generation technology to help combat parasitic nematodes, which plague millions of crop acres across the globe,” said Daniel R. Kittle, Ph.D., vice president of R&D for Dow AgroSciences.  “Dow AgroSciences is continuously exploring and leveraging enabling technologies – such as those from NemGenix – to provide new crop protection solutions that benefit growers around the world.”

Sean Hird, Ph.D., chief executive officer of NemGenix, said, “This multi-year collaboration is a key milestone in our corporate development and underscores our growing reputation as one of Australia’s most exciting new biotechnology companies. Our research team is excited to have the opportunity to build on our expertise in nematode control with the strength and capabilities of a partner such as Dow AgroSciences.”