http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/newsroom/news/2005/dowagrosciences05-nr_e.html
May 4, 2005
Press Release from the National Research Council Canada
NRC and Dow AgroSciences Sign
$10 million Strategic Alliance in Plant Biotechnology
Alliance builds upon research successes in canola enhancement
(Saskatoon, May 4, 2005) — The National Research Council
Plant Biotechnology Institute (NRC-PBI) and Dow AgroSciences
Canada Inc. (DASCI) have signed
a five-year strategic alliance. This research agreement, with
contributions by the parties valued at $10 million over five
years, builds on a previous five-year $10 million agreement
in the area of canola, demonstrating a commitment of $20 million
over 10 years to NRC-PBI research.
The research goals of the strategic alliance include diversification
of oilseed crops to produce new oil profiles for industry and
health, as well as improved canola meal for application in the
animal feed industry. The agreement also includes research into
the development of plant lines that produce valuable proteins
such as vaccines.
In 1999, NRC and DASCI signed a five-year
agreement for research into canola. This prior collaboration
led to significant discoveries, including the development of
canola plants which produce higher levels of oil and canola
meal with reduced levels of anti-nutritional factors.
"Dow AgroSciences Canada's continued commitment to NRC
plant biotechnology research demonstrates the value of our partnership,"
said NRC President Pierre Coulombe. "We will be building
upon our previous success to help give Canada a competitive
edge in today's global economy."
"This renewed commitment from Dow AgroSciences Canada
to the activities of NRC-PBI reflects our continued belief in
the talent and world class research that has been a hallmark
of NRC-PBI's history in western Canada" said Dow AgroSciences
Canada's President and CEO Rick Smith. "Together
our organizations have a focused commitment to redefining the
role of canola, both as a key agronomic crop grown in Canada
and as a major economic contributor to the health of our agricultural
export marketplace. If we assume the next five years will be
as successful as the last five have been, the future for canola
is exciting indeed."
"NRC looks forward to continuing our relationship with
Dow AgroSciences Canada. The NRC-PBI and Dow AgroSciences
partnership has already led to important advances in canola
research that we hope to transform into commercial realities
and new products for Canadians," said Dr. Kutty Kartha,
Director General of the NRC Plant Biotechnology Institute.
Recognized globally for research and innovation, Canada's National
Research Council (NRC) is a leader in the development of an
innovative, knowledge-based economy for Canada through science
and technology. (http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca). As a part
of NRC, the NRC Plant Biotechnology Institute (NRC-PBI) conducts
collaborative plant biotechnology research with universities,
government agencies, and industry, helping to transfer research
to product development and commercialization. For more information
go to: http://www.pbi.ibp.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
Dow AgroSciences LLC, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA,
is a global leader in providing pest management and biotechnology
products that improve the quality and quantity of the earth's
food supply and contribute to the health and quality of life
of the world's growing population. Dow AgroSciences has approximately
5,500 people in more than 50 countries dedicated to its business,
and has worldwide sales of US $3.4 billion. Dow AgroSciences
is a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company.
For more information about Dow AgroSciences, visit www.dowagro.com.
Dow AgroSciences Canada Inc. provides solutions in weed, insect
and disease management and plant genetics including Nexera*
canola, for Canadian growers, ranchers, foresters and industrial
vegetation managers. With over 140 employees throughout Canada,
Dow AgroSciences is headquartered in Calgary. For more information
about Dow AgroSciences Canada visit www.dowagro.ca or call the
Solutions Center at 1.800.667.3852.
*Trademark of Dow AgroSciences LLC
For more information, please visit the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca,
or contact:
Lisa Jategaonkar
Information Officer
National Research Council Plant Biotechnology Institute
(306) 975-5571
lisa.jategaonkar@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
Alex Myers
Media Relations, NRC
Tel.: (613) 998-7352
E-mail: media@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
Jim Wispinski
Marketing Director
Dow AgroSciences Canada
(403) 735 8846
jpwispinski@dow.com
