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Press Releases
DuPont and Mendel Collaborate to Improve Water Use Efficiency and Photosynthesis in Corn DES MOINES, Iowa and HAYWARD, California, February 26, 2013 -- DuPont and Mendel Biotechnology, Inc., have entered into a license collaboration to evaluate and commercialize new gene leads for increased water use efficiency (WUE) and improved photosynthesis in corn. Under the agreement, DuPont Pioneer and Mendel will evaluate these new gene leads and test them for yield-enhancement traits in Pioneer® brand corn products. These gene leads were identified by Mendel in its next-generation plant physiology platform. "Greater efficiency in water use and photosynthesis can enhance farmer profitability and productivity, while improving sustainability of agriculture worldwide," said Mike Lassner, vice president, Agricultural Biotechnology Trait Discovery, DuPont Pioneer. "We are pleased to collaborate with Mendel in developing new, improved Pioneer® brand corn hybrids. Working together with technology innovators increases our ability to meet the needs of a growing global population." "We are excited to be working with Pioneer to develop new, resource-use-efficient corn hybrids," said Neal Gutterson, CEO, Mendel. "We are leveraging fifteen years of focused research in plant gene regulatory networks, taking advantage of the genomics and sequencing revolutions, to create better and more sustainable crop solutions." Mendel Biotechnology, Inc., headquartered in Hayward, California, is a leading plant science company meeting the needs of global agriculture. Since 1997, Mendel has been deploying its plant gene regulatory network platform and proprietary tools to improve productivity, resource use efficiency and stress tolerance of key agricultural crops. Mendel's platform has already identified technologies for next-generation yield traits in soybean and other crops, and is the foundation of a pioneering class of crop performance chemistries and novel herbicides. For more information, visit: www.mendelbio.com. DuPont (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, technology innovators and thought leaders, we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment. For additional information about DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit www.dupont.com. DuPont Pioneer is the world's leading developer and supplier of advanced plant genetics, providing high-quality seeds to farmers in more than 90 countries. Pioneer provides agronomic support and services to help increase farmer productivity and profitability and strives to develop sustainable agricultural systems for people everywhere. Science with Service Delivering Success™. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPont™, and Science with Service Delivering Success™, and Pioneer® are trademarks or registered trademarks of DuPont or its affiliates. Contact: Mendel Two Blades Foundation licenses TAL code technology to Mendel EVANSTON, IL (October 9, 2012) -- The Two Blades Foundation (2Blades) announced today the completion of a non-exclusive license for the TAL code genome engineering technology to Mendel Biotechnology, Inc., a leading plant science company developing improved plant varieties and crop protection solutions for global agriculture. The TAL code is a novel, simple type of DNA recognition motif found in bacterial proteins and was discovered by Ulla Bonas, Jens Boch, Thomas Lahaye and Sebesatian Schornack of Martin Luther University in Halle, Germany. The TAL code technology accelerates trait improvement by enabling precise gene modifications at discrete sites in genomes. Mendel will grant back improvements to the TAL technology to 2Blades in support of the Foundation's work to improve food security in developing countries. The financial terms of the license were not disclosed. "One of Mendel's strengths is the early application of new technologies, like the TAL code, for improving agriculture," said Neal Gutterson, Mendel President & CEO. "We are continually expanding our technology platform to address emerging market opportunities beyond conventional biotechnology." "Mendel's license further expands the range of companies making use of this powerful new technology to invent new products that meet the needs of a growing population", said 2Blades Chief Operating Officer Diana Horvath. "Our mission of making the TAL code broadly available for plant applications continues to be realized as we increase our licensing efforts to reach the entrepreneurial discovery sector. It's a tremendous benefit to 2Blades to gain access to improvements made by Mendel and our other licensees for our on-going programs to minimize crop losses due to diseases in subsistence agriculture." The Two Blades Foundation (www.2blades.org) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation dedicated to developing durable disease resistance in agricultural crops. Mendel (www.mendelbio.com) is a leading plant science company meeting the needs of global agriculture. For over fifteen years, Mendel has been deploying its plant gene regulatory networks (PGRN) platform and proprietary tools to harness the genetic potential of crops to enhance agricultural productivity, resource use efficiency and harvest quality. This PGRN platform has identified technologies for next-generation yield traits in Monsanto's product pipeline, and is the foundation of an existing collaboration with Bayer CropScience to develop a pioneering class of crop performance chemistries. Mendel is actively seeking collaborators and licensees to develop novel products and technologies across a broad array of agricultural applications. Contact: Mendel New modes of action to tackle resistance issues: Bayer CropScience and Mendel Biotechnology co-develop herbicide resistance breaking technology Monheim, September 5, 2012 -- Bayer CropScience and Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. Hayward, California, USA announced today a new multi-year collaboration to jointly identify herbicides with novel modes of action. Increasing evidence of herbicide-resistant weeds in different geographies -- including those resistant to multiple herbicide classes -- has spurred renewed interest in the discovery of herbicides. Bayer CropScience, the global No. 2 in herbicides, will bring in its leading expertise in herbicide research and development. Together with Mendel's deep knowledge of plant genetic regulatory networks (PGRNs) and its suite of proprietary genetic tools and assays for understanding plant development, this promising collaboration offers significant synergies. "There is a major need in agriculture for herbicides acting through novel modes of action," noted Dr. C. David Nicholson, Global Head of Research & Development at Bayer CropScience. "We believe that this collaboration will help us continue our significant contributions in agricultural chemistry and will further strengthen our partnering to cultivate new ideas and answers to help growers to tackle weed resistance issues and to protect their crops." "We are excited to expand our partnership with Bayer CropScience into this new area of herbicide discovery," said Dr. Neal Gutterson, Mendel's President and CEO. "This collaboration is recognition of the broad applicability of Mendel's core technology platform and know-how in various fields across agriculture, and another important step towards realization of our new open architecture business strategy." About Bayer CropScience About Mendel Contact: Mendel Find more information at www.bayercropscience.com. Forward-Looking Statements First Plant Genomics Yield Technology Progresses HAYWARD, Calif., July 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Mendel announced today that its flagship yield technology has taken another important step towards the market. This technology will be employed by Monsanto in its new soybean yield trait. Last week, as part of its assessment process, the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) made available for public comment a petition requesting deregulation of the high-yield soybean trait. Higher-yielding soybeans are aimed at boosting the intrinsic yield potential of the soybean. In addition to developing the underlying technology for the yield trait, Mendel has done critical research to determine the molecular basis for the yield improvement and to support the regulatory approval process. The technology is currently in Phase 3 of Monsanto's product pipeline. Mendel and Monsanto have worked together on the development of biotechnology traits for more than a decade in many crops, including corn, soy, cotton and canola. This exclusive collaboration ended in 2011, enabling Mendel to develop and maintain ownership of its new technologies while working with a broader array of commercial partners from the beginning of 2012. Mendel's work in this field has enabled it to develop a unique understanding of plant gene regulatory networks (PGRNs) and this is the basis for Mendel's ongoing discovery and application work across a variety of fields. Mendel is now using its PGRN platform to crack the code of crop performance in the field. While much private and public investment has been made into determining the physical structure of crop genomes, the Mendel PGRN platform instead focuses on the expression of crop genomes, which enables Mendel to translate genomic information into crop productivity traits. Mendel is now investing substantially to identify new PGRNs for improved yield and resource use efficiency. Mendel has already identified a number of promising and novel PGRNs based on these screens, and is developing a robust patent estate to protect these new inventions. This new investment has been funded by an inside financing round completed in late 2011, with participation from all of Mendel's later-stage investors. Key to this investment is Mendel's shift from an exclusive partnering model to an "open architecture" model in which Mendel will license, co-develop and commercialize products with a broad range of customers across the agricultural industry. About Mendel. Mendel is the leading plant science company meeting the needs of global agriculture. For over fifteen years, Mendel has been deploying its PGRN platform and proprietary tools to harness a crop's genetic potential, in order to enhance agricultural productivity, resource use efficiency and crop quality. This PGRN platform has identified technologies for next-generation yield traits in Monsanto's product pipeline. PGRNs are also the foundation of a collaboration with Bayer CropScience to develop a pioneering class of crop performance chemistries. Crop protection is a third major market segment for Mendel, with a focus on developing new herbicide targets and herbicide product candidates using this same platform. Mendel is actively seeking collaborators to develop novel products and technologies across a broad array of agricultural applications. For more information, visit: www.mendelbio.com. Contact Greg Ikonen, Sr. VP Corporate Development, 510-259-6007. Mendel Biotechnology Inc, and BP Biofuels to Conduct Demonstration Field Trial of PowerCane™ Miscanthus March 13, 2012 -- Hayward, California -- Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. (MBI) and BP Biofuels have signed a four-year agreement to conduct a demonstration field trial of Mendel's PowerCane™ Miscanthus and evaluate its performance as feedstock for biofuel production at BP Biofuels' demonstration plant at Jennings, Louisiana. "This agreement is an important next step in our long-standing partnership with BP Biofuels," said Don Panter, president, Mendel BioEnergy Seeds, a wholly-owned subsidiary of MBI. "BP Biofuels will evaluate our new PowerCane™ Miscanthus product in large field trials and test it at demonstration scale in their biofuel conversion process." A total of 100 acres of PowerCane™ Miscanthus will be planted in early 2012 near BP's Jennings facility and the first biomass harvest from these fields is expected in 2013. "As we move toward commercial production of cellulosic biofuels and work to bring costs in line with conventional fuels, agricultural advancements such as this will be a critical factor," said Sue Ellerbusch, president of BP Biofuels North America. PowerCane™ Miscanthus represents a new chapter in biomass production. While the current publicly available miscanthus varieties have outstanding agronomic and biomass performance characteristics, they must be planted as a rhizome or live plug, which requires additional investment and equipment for growers. "PowerCane™ Miscanthus varieties are the first miscanthus products specifically developed for biomass production that can be planted as a seed," said Panter. "The PowerCane™ Miscanthus system will be significantly more economical and efficient for growers, and will allow the industry to scale up more quickly to meet renewable energy goals." BP Biofuels is currently operates a biofuels demonstration facility in Jennings, La that is used to test new cellulosic technologies in the biofuels production process. BP is also constructing a 20,000 acre energy grass farm in Florida that will supply a 36 million gallon a year conversion facility. Construction on the facility is expected to commence later this year. About Mendel Biotechnology, Inc.Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. (MBI) is a premier independent corporation developing new genetic and chemical solutions for improvement of crop yield and resource use efficiency. It is also dedicated to becoming the leading seed company serving the bioenergy industry. MBI has expertise in the application of functional genomics in studying plant genes and is a pioneer in the production of dedicated energy crops critical for second generation biofuels. MBI has identified and patented the use of genes that control many aspects of plant growth and development, and is applying these inventions to develop or co-develop new plant varieties with improved productivity and quality. MBI has relationships with leading agricultural, energy, forestry and horticulture companies for the commercialization of improved seed and plant products, and is developing new seed and feedstock products for the emerging bioenergy markets. For more information, visit: www.mendelbio.com. Contact: Mendel collaborates with University of Georgia researchers on first Miscanthus genetic map Athens, Ga. -- Researchers at the University of Georgia have taken a major step in the ongoing effort to find sources of cleaner, renewable energy by mapping the genomes of two originator cells of Miscanthus x giganteus, a large perennial grass with promise as a source of ethanol and bioenergy. Changsoo Kim, a postdoctoral research associate in the UGA Plant Genome Mapping Laboratory, identified a set of approximately 600 bits of Miscanthus DNA that can serve as diagnostic tools. The next step is to determine which pieces of DNA are diagnostic of genes that can make the plant an even better biofuel crop. Kim's work-and the Plant Genome Mapping Laboratory-is led by Andrew Paterson, a Distinguished Research Professor who falls under the UGA departments of genetics and plant biology in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences and crop and soil sciences in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. "What we are doing right now is taking the same individual plants that were used in the genetic map and measuring their height, flowering time, the size of their stalks, the dimensions of their leaves and how far they have spread from where they were planted," said Paterson, who is also a member of the Bioenergy Systems Research Institute. "And then one can use pretty straightforward statistics to look for correlations between bits of DNA and a trait." Miscanthus is a natural candidate for biomass farming. Its sugarcane-like stalks grow to more than 12 feet in height in soil of marginal quality; it requires very little fertilizer; it grows well in moist temperate climates across the United States, Europe and Asia; and in the eastern U.S. it can produce more biomass on less acreage than other candidate biofuel crops. Miscanthus is also a cleaner source of energy than fossil fuels. When coal or oil is burned, it releases carbon that has been trapped under the earth's crust into the atmosphere, which is a major cause of global climate change. Miscanthus removes carbon from the atmosphere as it grows. When it is burned, it releases only the carbon it collected, effectively making it carbon neutral. Kim and Paterson's work will allow breeders to build on Miscanthus' natural strengths and remove some of its weaknesses. For example, a significant challenge to producing Miscanthus for biomass in the southeastern U.S. is that it tends to flower too soon. Flowering requires nutrients and energy that the plant would otherwise use to grow taller, thicker stalks and leaves. "You don't want it to flower," Paterson said. "You'd like it to keep making leaves and stalks and not bother with reproduction. Nature tells it not to do that." The genetic map will allow Kim and Paterson to locate Miscanthus genes responsible for flowering and prevent it from happening too early in the growing season. That will leave farmers with tall, hearty plants that will yield the most biomass possible. Their efforts caught the attention of venture capitalists and biotechnology companies that hope to make Miscanthus farming a profitable and widespread practice. One company, Mendel Biotechnology, was so interested in the potential crop they partnered with Kim and Paterson on their Miscanthus project. Mendel distributes plants and plant seed that have been enhanced through genetic research to farmers and other industry partners for bioenergy crop production. "There is a lot of basic research that we cannot afford to do," said Donald Panter, senior vice president of BioEnergy Seeds at Mendel. "We are a company that is trying to commercialize a product and serve our customers, so our relationship to academia in the U.S. is critical." The genetic map promises to save Mendel many years of field research to improve Miscanthus. Without the map, researchers and breeders must go out into farmland and take thousands of measurements of plant characteristics in many different locations to determine which plants have the greatest potential as the beginnings of a biofuel crop. With the genetic map, they can select the best plant varieties at the molecular level much more rapidly. "We really want to leverage the know-how we get from American academia to help us speed up the process of creating from nothing a commercial species that can be planted on millions of acres in the next 10 to 15 years," Panter said. "We wouldn't be as far along the way if we didn't have people like Andy Paterson helping us." Large-scale production of Miscanthus for biomass will take several years, but Kim and Paterson's research is an important initial step in the process. "This is just the beginning," Kim said. "We want to provide breeders with a valuable resource for their future breeding efforts. That's our long-term goal." [From: http://news.uga.edu/releases/article/grass-to-gas-uga-researchers/] Mendel Trait Technology Advances Towards Commercial Launch HAYWARD, Calif., Sept. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Mendel Biotechnology Inc. ("Mendel") announced today that a regulatory petition by Monsanto Company was made recently to the USDA for soybean plants containing Mendel's leading yield gene. The filing is a key part of the regulatory path as the trait moves closer to commercial launch. Approval of the petition is one of the final milestones needed to make the high yield soybean plants available to farmers. The underlying yield gene represents Mendel's flagship commercial trait technology and was discovered and developed through a research collaboration funded by Monsanto leveraging Mendel's deep expertise in plant gene regulation and network biology. Mendel possesses patent rights related to this yield gene in major agricultural production geographies and sees application potential for the gene to be licensed in various fields, including forestry, energy crops and others. Mendel, which has remained privately held since it was founded in 1997, has developed a leading portfolio of ag biotech traits for improved yield and stress tolerance in large acreage and high value crops. In addition to already having a number of trait technologies that were developed in the past decade, Mendel is deploying a suite of state-of-the-art, genomics-based technical platforms for discovery and development of new technologies to meet global yield and stress tolerance targets and the need for improved efficiency of using resources like water and nitrogen. As well as working to commercialize its current traits, Mendel is also deploying its knowledge of plant gene regulatory networks to the discovery of novel chemistries to improve plant performance in its Chemistry business segment, and to the development of improved varieties of the premier energy crop, miscanthus, in its Seeds business segment. "We are absolutely delighted that Monsanto has submitted a dossier for deregulation of soybean plants that contain our high-yield gene. This submission underscores our belief in the potential of our technology strategy and business and validates our long term R&D strategy focused on understanding and improving the regulation of gene networks that control important plant traits," said Neal Gutterson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mendel. "With the continued development of this and other technologies, we are now in position to apply our knowledge of gene networks and our technology platforms to the discovery and development of additional biotech traits." About Mendel Mendel is a premier independent corporation serving large agricultural companies with new genetic and chemical solutions for improvement of crop yield and resource use efficiency and is also dedicated to becoming the leading seed company serving the bioenergy industry. Mendel's technology organization has a very deep expertise base in the application of functional genomics to the study of plant genes and the company is also a pioneer in the production of dedicated energy crops critical for second generation biofuels. Mendel has identified and patented the use of genes that control many aspects of plant growth and development, and is applying these inventions to develop or co-develop new plant varieties with improved productivity and quality. Mendel has relationships with leading agricultural, energy, forestry and horticulture companies for the commercialization of improved seed and plant products, and is developing new seed and feedstock products for the emerging bioenergy markets. For more information, visit: www.mendelbio.com Contact: Oliver J. Ratcliffe, Sr. Vice President, Research. Ph.: (510) 259-6146 Oxford Resource Partners, LP and Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. Announce a Miscanthus Biomass Pilot Project in Ohio: Opportunity to Convert Reclaimed Mine Lands for Renewable Energy Columbus, Ohio and Hayward, California, September 21, 2010 Oxford Resource Partners, LP (NYSE: OXF) ("Oxford") and Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. ("Mendel") today announced their collaborative agreement to develop a pilot project to produce Mendel's proprietary Miscanthus varieties on land previously reclaimed from mining operations by Oxford. The goal of the project is to demonstrate the feasibility and economic viability of biomass production from dedicated energy crops in eastern Ohio. Miscanthus is a genus of high-yielding perennial grass that has shown great promise as a sustainable source of renewable energy. Its deep rhizome structure and broad adaptation make it a potentially attractive crop for converting reclaimed mine land to a source of biomass for electricity or liquid transportation fuel. "While Oxford's focus will always be responsible coal mining, we recognize that utilities in the State of Ohio are committed to including biomass among their fuel sources in the coming years," said Charles C. Ungurean, President and CEO of Oxford. "Part of our responsibility is to reclaim land that was formerly mined, a program in which we take great pride. As such, we are pleased to be able to assist our utility partners in advancing their efforts to develop alternative fuel sources," continued Mr. Ungurean. "We are excited to work with Oxford to demonstrate Miscanthus as a viable option for this important energy producing region of the country," said Neal Gutterson, Mendel's President and CEO. "The goal of energy independence provides the spark for innovative companies such as Oxford to find ways to convert marginal or otherwise idle lands to a more sustainable use by employing the latest advancements in genetics and crop technologies." About Oxford Resource Partners, LP Oxford Resource Partners, LP is a low cost producer of high value steam coal in Northern Appalachia and the Illinois Basin. Oxford markets its coal primarily to large electric utilities with coal-fired, base-load scrubbed power plants under long-term coal sales contracts. As of December 31, 2009, Oxford controlled 91.6 million tons of proven and probable coal reserves, and it currently operates 17 active mines that are managed as eight mining complexes. Oxford is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. For more information about Oxford Resource Partners, LP (NYSE: OXF), please visit www.oxfordresources.com. Financial and other information about Oxford is routinely posted on and accessible at www.oxfordresources.com. About Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. is a pioneer in the application of functional genomics to the study of plant genes and is a leading developer of dedicated energy crops for the bioenergy markets. Mendel has relationships with leading agricultural, energy, forestry and horticulture companies for the commercialization of improved seed and plant products, and is developing new seed and feedstock products for the emerging bioenergy market. For more information about Mendel Biotechnology, Inc., please visit www.mendelbio.com. Mendel Announces US Miscanthus Field Trial Results: Second Year Data Demonstrate High-Yielding, Genetically Diverse Product Portfolio Hayward, California, May 6, 2010 Mendel BioEnergy Seeds, a division of Mendel Biotechnology, Inc., announced today that average two-year yields of its numerous varieties of Miscanthus indicate that Mendel's lead product candidates are on track to meet or exceed current commercial targets for biomass production from dedicated energy crops. The most promising yields reported were from Mendel's proprietary varieties of Miscanthus giganteus, a sterile, non-invasive species. Miscanthus is a genus of high-yielding perennial grass that has shown great promise as a sustainable source of renewable energy. Mendel reported yield results from its field trial network throughout the southeastern and midwestern US which showed that average biomass yields among all Miscanthus giganteus ("MxG") varieties outperformed the average measured yield of all switchgrass entries. Additionally, an advanced product candidate released last year from Mendel's extensive breeding program, MBX-002, demonstrated significant more biomass production in statistically validated trials than the public Miscanthus variety, MxG, cv Illinois. Perennial grasses such as Miscanthus typically reach 40 - 60% of peak yields by the second growing season. "These second-year results demonstrate that Mendel's proprietary Miscanthus varieties have the potential to become a meaningful part of the renewable fuels and power feedstock solution in this country," said Don Panter, senior vice president of Mendel BioEnergy Seeds. "The reliable delivery of Miscanthus biomass for electricity or liquid transportation fuel production benefits from having genetically diverse Miscanthus clones. We anticipate that our 2010 field trial results will establish Mendel as a provider of such a genetically diverse offering of Miscanthus varieties with best-in-class yield performance." About Mendel Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. is a pioneer in the application of functional genomics to the study of plant genes, and a leading developer of dedicated energy crops for the bioenergy markets. Mendel has identified and patented the use of genes that control many aspects of plant growth and development, and is using such inventions to develop new plant varieties with improved productivity and quality. Mendel has relationships with leading agricultural, energy, forestry and horticulture companies for the commercialization of improved seed and plant products, and is developing new seed and feedstock products for the emerging bioenergy market. For more information, visit: www.mendelbio.com. Bayer CropScience and Mendel Biotechnology expand collaboration in crop protection Monheim, March 8, 2010 Bayer CropScience and Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. in Hayward, California (USA) have entered into a new three-year collaboration agreement which extends their existing joint activities. The objective is to develop chemical products which make crops more resistant to biotic and abiotic stress factors, which in turn will stabilize yields and improve crop productivity. Bayer CropScience is contributing its expertise in chemical research - specifically in substance screening - to this collaboration. The company is already marketing products which enhance the stress tolerance of plants and boost yields under the "Stress Shield Inside" label. Mendel, a pioneer in plant functional genomics has a large number of biotechnology patents. Mendel researchers have identified key genes responsible for controlling plant growth and environmental responses and are applying these discoveries to improve plant performance. The research program focuses on new approaches to improving crop productivity. The aim is to develop substances which chemically modulate the signaling networks used by plants to control parameters such as growth and stress tolerance. Mendel and Bayer have already worked together for several years in the discovery and development of chemical products to regulate plant stress tolerance. This partnership will now be extended to include the discovery of substances which regulate additional components of crop yield potential. "Chemical products that mediate enhanced crop performance are an untapped market with potentially high added value," commented Dr. Alexander Klausener, Head of Research at Bayer CropScience. "New solutions would enable Bayer CropScience to make a significant contribution to safeguarding agricultural yields and increasing productivity in the longer term. Although abiotic stress factors cause substantial loss of yields in agriculture, the development of products to strengthen plants and increase yields is a largely uncharted field of research." "We have been collaborating with Bayer CropScience for a number of years and have built an excellent working relationship with their scientific team," said Oliver J. Ratcliffe, Mendel's Vice President of Research. "This new program now provides the opportunity to expand our chemical research into additional valuable areas. The partnership offers significant synergies and leverages both Mendel's knowledge and advanced technology platforms for analysis of gene regulation as well as the expertise of Bayer CropScience as one of the world's leading innovative companies in the agricultura industry." About Bayer CropScience Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, nutrition and high-tech materials. Bayer CropScience AG, a subsidiary of Bayer AG with annual sales of about EUR 6.5 billion (2009), is one of the world's leading innovative crop science companies in the areas of crop protection, non-agricultural pest control, seeds and traits. The company offers an outstanding range of products and extensive service backup for modern, sustainable agriculture and for non-agricultural applications. Bayer CropScience has a global workforce of 18,700 and is represented in more than 120 countries. This and further news is available at: www.press.bayercropscience.com About Mendel Technology Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. is a leader in the application of functional genomics to the study of plant genes. Mendel has identified genes that control many aspects of plant growth and development, and is working to develop or co-develop new plant varieties with improved productivity and quality. Mendel has relationships with leading agricultural, energy, forestry and horticulture companies for the commercialization of improved seed and plant products, and is developing its own seed and feedstock products for the emerging bioenergy market. For more information, visit: www.mendelbio.com
Your contact: Forward-Looking Statements Mendel Biotechnology and Speedling Announce Development and Commercial Collaboration for Miscanthus Products Hayward, California, and Sun City, Florida, November 30, 2009 Speedling Incorporated and Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. today announced a collaborative agreement to jointly research, develop, and commercialize a cost-effective propagation and production system for Mendel's advanced Miscanthus product candidates. Speedling will apply its proprietary propagation methods to optimize the production of field-ready transplants for large scale testing and commercialization by Mendel in the emerging bioenergy markets. The parties will also jointly develop certain biomass power projects in target locations specifically chosen for their yield potential of Mendel Miscanthus products. "Commercial-scale deployment of genetically diverse, high-yielding perennial grasses will be required for the country to meet its renewable energy and fuel targets in an economically and environmentally sustainable manner," said Neal Gutterson, Mendel's president and CEO. "Speedling has demonstrated best-in-class capabilities in vegetative plug production with superior customer service. We are delighted to have Speedling as a partner for large-scale deployment of both our advanced clonal Miscanthus products and also future development needs and product offerings." "Speedling is excited to join forces with a leading biotechnology firm with the outstanding reputation of Mendel." said Greg Davis, CEO of Speedling. "We believe that the surest path to success in the rapidly emerging bioenergy industry is partnerships that match complimentary skills and expertise. Speedling's proven productions capacities and Mendel's biogenetic expertise certainly meet that criterion." Under the terms of the agreement, Mendel will provide stock Miscanthus material to Speedling, who will develop propagation and production methods for crop establishment. The parties will jointly fund the development activities. Speedling will provide field-ready plugs to Mendel at commercial terms. The parties will exclusively develop certain biomass power projects to demonstrate the commercial utility of Miscanthus products in the generation of renewable electricity in a closed loop biomass system. About Mendel Biotechnology Mendel Biotechnology, Inc., is a pioneer in the application of functional genomics to the study of plant genes. Mendel is also a leading developer of dedicated energy crops for the bioenergy markets. Mendel has identified and patented the use of genes that control many aspects of plant growth and development, and is using such inventions to develop or co-develop new plant varieties with improved productivity and quality. Mendel has relationships with leading agricultural, energy, forestry and horticulture companies for the commercialization of improved seed and plant products, and is developing new seed and feedstock products for the emerging bioenergy market. For more information, visit: www.mendelbio.com. About Speedling Speedling Inc. is a 47 year old agricultural firm specializing in the production of field-ready plugs in the vegetable, ornamental and dedicated energy crop markets. With headquarters in Sun City, Florida and operations in Florida, Georgia, Texas and California, Speedling is an industry leader and pioneer in plant propagation. For more information, visit: www.speedling.com. Mendel Biotechnology Yield Trait Reaches Phase III for Monsanto Soybean Products HAYWARD, Calif., January 9, 2009 --(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Monsanto Company (“Monsanto”) announced earlier this week that it has advanced its higher yielding soybean trait, sourced from Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. (“Mendel”), into its Phase III development stage. The technology was identified and developed through a research program funded by Monsanto, designed to leverage Mendel’s expertise in regulatory pathways and network biology. The two companies have worked together for over a decade on the development of biotechnology-based traits for Monsanto’s row crops seed business, and the companies continue to collaborate to develop high-value traits. “We are delighted that one of our traits has reached this advanced stage in Monsanto’s commercial pipeline, which underscores the commercial viability and success of this project, and validates our long term R&D strategy focused on understanding gene networks that control important plant traits,” said Neal Gutterson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mendel. “Monsanto is the acknowledged global leader in the development and commercialization of high-value, sustainable agricultural seed products. We are very excited to be a developer and provider of trait technologies for them.” “Monsanto is committed to providing farmers with higher grain yields to help support the world’s growing demand for food, feed and fuel,” said Steve Padgette, Vice President of Biotechnology at Monsanto. “We are extremely pleased to see our long-term, valued collaboration with Mendel deliver an important trait into Phase III advanced commercial development.” Higher yielding soybeans, which have demonstrated 6 percent to 7 percent yield increase across three seasons of testing in 56 field environments, are expected to be an important part of our stacked soybean trait portfolio of the future, Padgette said. “We also are excited about other Mendel genes being evaluated in our R&D pipeline,” he said. About Mendel Biotechnology Mendel Biotechnology, Inc., has been a pioneer in the application of functional genomics to the study of plant genes. Mendel is also a pioneer for the production of dedicated energy crops critical for second generation biofuels. Mendel has identified and patented the use of genes that control many aspects of plant growth and development, and is applying these inventions to develop or co-develop new plant varieties with improved productivity and quality. Mendel has relationships with leading agricultural, energy, forestry and horticulture companies for the commercialization of improved seed and plant products, and is developing new seed and feedstock products for the emerging bioenergy market. For more information, visit: www.mendelbio.com. About Monsanto Company Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality. Monsanto remains focused on enabling both small-holder and large-scale farmers to produce more from their land while conserving more of our world's natural resources such as water and energy. To learn more about our business and our commitments, please visit: www.monsanto.com. Contacts:
Mendel: Neal Gutterson, President & CEO. Ph.: (510) 259-6059 Certain statements contained in this presentation are "forward-looking statements," such as statements concerning the company's anticipated financial results, current and future product performance, regulatory approvals, business and financial plans and other non-historical facts. These statements are based on current expectations and currently available information. However, since these statements are based on factors that involve risks and uncertainties, the company's actual performance and results may differ materially from those described or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, among others: continued competition in seeds, traits and agricultural chemicals; the company's exposure to various contingencies, including those related to intellectual property protection, regulatory compliance and the speed with which approvals are received, and public acceptance of biotechnology products; the success of the company's research and development activities; the outcomes of major lawsuits; developments related to foreign currencies and economies; successful operation of recent acquisitions; fluctuations in commodity prices; compliance with regulations affecting our manufacturing; the accuracy of the company's estimates related to distribution inventory levels; the company's ability to fund its short-term financing needs and to obtain payment for the products that it sells; the effect of weather conditions, natural disasters and accidents on the agriculture business or the company's facilities; and other risks and factors detailed in the company's most recent periodic report to the SEC. Undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements, which are current only as of the date of this presentation. The company disclaims any current intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements or any of the factors that may affect actual results. Mendel Biotechnology and MMR Genetics Announce Sorghum Biofuels Collaboration Richardson Seeds to provide seed production services Hayward, California, and Vega, Texas, June 16, 2008 MMR Genetics, Richardson Seeds, and Mendel today announced a collaborative agreement to jointly research, develop and breed new cultivars for the emerging second-generation biofuels market. MMR Genetics and Mendel will jointly establish a bioenergy nursery, which will be used to breed new, high-performing sorghum cultivars with unique biofuels characteristics. Richardson Seeds will produce commercial quantities of selected cultivars. "Mendel's goal is to become the premier provider of differentiated, elite germplasm to the bioenergy market", said Neal Gutterson, Mendel's president and chief executive officer. "MMR Genetics has demonstrated superior breeding capabilities in its existing forage business. We are delighted to have MMR and Richardson as partners in sorghum, a crop that will be an important feedstock for these markets." "Sorghum has the genetic potential -- because of its yield capacities, adaptation ranges, and germplasm diversity -- to provide superior second-generation biofuels and assist in alleviating dependence on fossil energy sources" said Dr. Fred Miller, senior sorghum breeder and owner of MMR Genetics. "MMR Genetics and Mendel will be able to move our high quality forage and biomass programs to exciting new levels through our association by creating tailor-made commercial feedstocks for these new markets." Under the terms of the agreement, MMR Genetics will contribute germplasm, breeding know-how and services, and nursery operations; Mendel will provide funding and research and breeding assistance and will have exclusive commercial rights to selected cultivars. Richardson Seeds will provide seed production research and produce commercial quantities of selected cultivars. The financial terms were not disclosed. About Mendel Biotechnology Mendel Biotechnology, Inc., has been a pioneer in the application of functional genomics to the study of plant genes. Mendel is also a pioneer for the production of dedicated energy crops critical for second generation biofuels. Mendel has identified and patented the use of genes that control many aspects of plant growth and development, and is using such inventions to develop or co-develop new plant varieties with improved productivity and quality. Mendel has relationships with leading agricultural, energy, forestry and horticulture companies for the commercialization of improved seed and plant products, and is developing new seed and feedstock products for the emerging bioenergy market. For more information, visit: www.mendelbio.com. About MMR Genetics MMR Genetics, Ltd. is the leading independent developer of parental lines for grain and forage sorghums. MMR Genetics provides F1 grain and forage sorghum hybrids for visual observation and evaluation. However, MMR Genetics does not produce hybrids for direct market sale. Only the parental (male and female) inbred lines are licensed by MMR Genetics for third-party marketing. For more information, visit: www.mmrgenetics.com. About Richardson Seeds Richardson Seeds, Ltd. has been a proven, dependable, hybrid sorghum producer for more than 50 years. They specialize in hybrid grain sorghum, hybrid forage sorghum, hybrid sorghum x sudan, and hybrid millet. (Richardson Seeds, Ltd. is also headquarters for MMR Genetics, Ltd. For more information, visit: www.richardsonseeds.com. Monsanto Company and Mendel Biotechnology Announce Cellulosic Biofuels Collaboration HAYWARD, California, and ST. LOUIS, Missouri, April 28, 2008 Monsanto Company (NYSE: MON) and Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. today announced a collaborative agreement to enhance the development of Mendel's BioEnergy Seeds & Feedstocks business. Under the terms of the agreement, Mendel will benefit from Monsanto's industry-leading expertise in the testing, breeding, and development of crops. Mendel and Monsanto have worked together on the development of biotechnology traits for more than a decade in many crops, including corn, soy, cotton and canola. In this new collaboration, the two companies will apply Monsanto's expertise in crop testing, breeding and seed production to perennial grass seed varieties Mendel is developing for use in biofuels and other commercial applications. "Mendel sees a bright future for second generation biofuels. We recognize the need to continue growing our capabilities and expertise to enable us to best serve farmers and refiners with proprietary seed products," said Neal Gutterson, president and chief executive officer of Mendel. "Monsanto is the global leader in the development and commercialization of high-value, sustainable seed products. We are excited to work with Monsanto's outstanding technical team to enhance our ability to create high-performing dedicated energy crops." "Monsanto has been committed to providing farmers with higher grain yields to help them meet demand for food, feed and fuel," said Steve Padgette, vice president of biotechnology at Monsanto. "This collaboration has the potential to advance discoveries in the next frontier: cellulosic biofuels. It also presents both companies with an opportunity to broaden our understanding of the strengths and potential applications of biomass grasses to biofuels production." Cellulosic biofuels are made from leaves, stems, stalks or other typically non-edible parts of plants. Use of these renewable energy sources has the potential to greatly expand biofuel supply and also deliver environmental benefits such as reduced greenhouse gas emissions. About Mendel Biotechnology Mendel Biotechnology, Inc., has been a pioneer in the application of functional genomics to the study of plant genes. Mendel is also a pioneer for the production of dedicated energy crops critical for second generation biofuels. Mendel has identified and patented the use of genes that control many aspects of plant growth and development, and is using such inventions to develop or co-develop new plant varieties with improved productivity and quality. Mendel has relationships with leading agricultural, energy, forestry and horticulture companies for the commercialization of improved seed and plant products, and is developing new seed and feedstock products for the emerging bioenergy market. For more information, visit: www.mendelbio.com. About Monsanto: Monsanto Company is a leading provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality. For more information on Monsanto, see http://www.monsanto.com/. Contacts: Mendel: Neal Gutterson, President & CEO. (510-264-0280) Monsanto: Sara Duncan, Public Affairs (314-694-2729) Mendel Biotechnology announces new research partnership with Bayer CropScience HAYWARD, California, February 20, 2008 -- Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. today announced a new research partnership with Bayer CropScience AG of Monheim, Germany. The program is a continuation of previous joint activities which focused on the elucidation of stress response mode of actions of Bayer agrochemicals like Imidacloprid and Trifloxystrobin. The new program aims to discover and develop further chemical products that regulate plant stress tolerance. The collaboration will leverage Mendel Biotechnology's knowledge of plant transcription factor pathways and the expertise of Bayer CropScience as a leader in agricultural chemistry. Environmental stress results in significant annual crop losses worldwide. Chemical products that mediate crop stress responses are an untapped market with the potential for yield stabilization in areas prone to aberrant weather. The research program will focus on new approaches to alleviating stress related yield losses through development of compounds that target key components of plant signaling networks. About Mendel Biotechnology Mendel Biotechnology, Inc., has been a pioneer in the application of functional genomics to the study of plant genes. Mendel has identified and patented the use of genes that control many aspects of plant growth and development, and is using such inventions to develop or co-develop new plant varieties with improved productivity and quality. Mendel has relationships with leading agricultural, energy, forestry and horticulture companies for the commercialization of improved seed and plant products, and is developing new seed and feedstock products for the emerging bioenergy market. For more information, visit: www.mendelbio.com. About Bayer CropScience AG Bayer CropScience AG, a subsidiary of Bayer AG with annual sales of about EUR 5.7 billion (2006), is one of the world s leading innovative crop science companies in the areas of crop protection, non-agricultural pest control, seeds and plant biotechnology. The company offers an outstanding range of products and extensive service backup for modern, sustainable agriculture and for non-agricultural applications. Bayer CropScience has a global workforce of about 17,900 and is represented in more than 120 countries. For more information, visit www.bayer.com or www.bayercropscience.com. Contact: Oliver J. Ratcliffe, Vice President, Research (001-510-264-0280) Mendel Biotechnology Announces Completion of Financing HAYWARD, California, October 15, 2007 -- Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. ("Mendel" announced today the completion of a financing round in which ZBI Ventures (the private equity investment arm of Ziff Brothers Investments), Capricorn Investment Group, and CFM became new investors in Mendel. In connection with these investments, a ZBI representative will be joining the board. In addition, Monsanto has made an additional investment in Mendel. Mendel will be using the proceeds to support the growth of its new BioEnergy seeds and feedstock business, as well as the further development of its core technology platforms. The Company also may use a portion of the proceeds to repurchase shares from existing share and option-holders, thereby restructuring the shareholder base of the company. "Mendel was very pleased to have ZBI Ventures lead this financing round, and is very pleased to have been able to broaden our investor base, with three new investors, to support the growth of the company," said Neal Gutterson, Mendel's President and Chief Executive Officer. "We expect to benefit from their knowledge of the agricultural and energy sectors. We are equally pleased to see the continued commitment by Monsanto to Mendel, both in our core technology collaboration and to our future growth in cellulosic biofuels." "Mendel is a unique company, with strong commercial collaborations, in the agricultural sector through Monsanto, and in the biofuels sector through BP," said Neil Wallack, President of ZBI Ventures. "We are excited to work with Mendel as they develop a pioneering BioEnergy seeds and feedstock business, and continue as a leader in agricultural biotechnology with Monsanto." Robb Fraley, Monsanto's Chief Technology Officer, noted that "Mendel has been an important and beneficial collaborator for Monsanto, providing important technologies that support our pipeline. We look forward to our continued involvement with Mendel and we're excited to see their research expand into the cellulosic biofuels industry." About Mendel Biotechnology Mendel Biotechnology, Inc., a closely-held private company, has been a pioneer in the application of functional genomics to the study of plant genes. Mendel has identified and patented the use of genes that control many aspects of plant growth and development, and is using such inventions to develop or co-develop new plant varieties with improved productivity and quality. Mendel has relationships with leading agricultural, forestry and horticulture companies for the commercialization of improved seed and plant products, and is developing new seed products for the emerging bioenergy market, focused on cellulosic ethanol. For more information, visit: www.mendelbio.com. Contacts: Neal Gutterson, President & CEO of Mendel Biotechnology: +1 510 264 0280 Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. chosen by AlwaysOn as one of the GoingGreen 100 Top Private Companies for 2007 HAYWARD, California, September 4, 2007 -- Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. today announced that it has been chosen by AlwaysOn as one of the GoingGreen 100 Top Private Companies for 2007. The first-annual elite GoingGreen 100 list was compiled by the AlwaysOn editorial panel. In order to be eligible for the GoingGreen 100 list, companies had to be peer-nominated, with AlwaysOn receiving more than 500 nominations from venture investors, investment bankers and other industry experts. "The AlwaysOn GoingGreen 100 companies will accelerate the global movement to a more sustainable environment," said Tony Perkins, founder and editor of AlwaysOn. "The ideas and innovation we saw as we reviewed hundreds of clean technology companies will be foundational to the next wave of economic growth in California and beyond. My congratulations to each AlwaysOn GoingGreen 100 winner --these are the companies which we predict will have the greatest market traction, strongest innovation and most game-changing approaches this year." Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. and the GoingGreen 100 Top Private Companies for 2007 will be honored at AlwaysOn GoingGreen to be held at the University of California in Davis from September 10 - 12. GoingGreen is a two-and-a-half-day executive gathering that highlights the significant impact clean technologies have on new economic growth and in sustainable use of natural resources. The idea behind the GoingGreen 100 top private companies list is to identify the most promising entrepreneurial opportunities and investments in the clean technology industry. A full list of all the AlwaysOn GoingGreen 100 Private Companies can be found on the AlwaysOn Web site at: http://alwayson.goingon.com/permalink/post/18632 About AlwaysOn GoingGreen: AlwaysOn GoingGreen is a two-and-a-half-day executive gathering that highlights the significant impact clean technologies have on new economic growth and in sustainable use of natural resources. AlwaysOn GoingGreen features the most innovative companies, eminent technologists, influential investors and journalists in keynote presentations, panel debates and private company CEO showcases. The goal of the conference is to identify the most promising entrepreneurial opportunities and investments in the clean tech industry.
About Mendel Biotechnology
About AlwaysOn Mendel Biotechnology Announces Collaboration with BP on Biofeedstocks HAYWARD, California, June 13, 2007 (Business Wire) -- Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. ("Mendel") and BP have entered into a collaboration to develop biofeedstocks for the production of cellulosic biofuels. In addition to funding the five-year biofuels research program, BP will become a shareholder of Mendel with representation on Mendel's Board. Working with BP, Mendel aims to be at the forefront of seed supply into the future energy grass seed market. Mendel has already established a breeding program for perennial grass variety improvement and will accelerate this program in collaboration with BP. Mendel will establish breeding stations in the Midwest and the Southeast United States, and accelerate breeding collaborations with groups in Germany and China. As the biofuel industry matures, new biofeedstocks will be needed for the production of bio-derived molecules from the entire carbohydrate portion of the plant. To ensure a consistent supply of feedstocks to refineries, a new seed industry is needed to provide farmers with high-yielding varieties, and a new service industry is needed to ensure the delivery of feedstocks to the refineries. "We are excited to collaborate with BP in the development of critical products for the biofuels value chain. While the new seed and biofeedstock business will serve the needs of all biofuel refineries, having a first committed collaborator is a critical starting point." said Neal Gutterson, Mendel's President and Chief Executive Officer. "BP has emerged as a leader in alternative energies, including biofuels. We cannot imagine a better party to collaborate with in developing our new business." "Mendel has demonstrated its excellence in plant science," said Tony Meggs, Group Vice President of Technology at BP. "This collaboration with Mendel is one example of BP's commitment to the development of new technologies to enable the supply of new, renewable energy sources."
About Mendel Biotechnology
About BP
Contacts
Mendel Biotechnology Awarded SBIR Phase IIB Grant for Continued Research on Disease Resistance HAYWARD, California - 8 June 2007 -- Mendel Biotechnology, Inc., a privately held biotechnology company, announced today that it was granted a Phase IIB Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Science Foundation. The SBIR phase IIB grant provides two years of supplemental funding for a Phase II grant awarded to Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. for development of crops with improved disease resistance, based on matching funds from a third party investor. Protection of crops against fungal pathogens is one of the most significant unmet needs in agriculture. Over $600 million is spent each year in the United States to protect plants against fungal pathogens. Nonetheless, annual losses to fungal pathogens are approximately $900 million in North America for soybean alone, with total crop losses of approximately $5 billion. The grant will fund research that aims to enhance a plant's natural ability to resist pathogen infection, thereby reducing or eliminating the need for fungicides, through enhancement of Mendel's transcription factor-based TDR technology. Karen Century, Ph.D., a Senior Scientist, will serve as the Principal Investigator of the grant.
Mendel Biotechnology announces acquisition of Miscanthus breeding program from Tinplant HAYWARD, California, March 30, 2007 /PRNewswire/ -- Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. ("Mendel") today announced the acquisition of the entire Miscanthus breeding program from Tinplant Biotechnik und Pflanzenvermehrung GmbH ("Tinplant"), a German breeding and plant science company. Miscanthus is one of the leading candidates for dedicated energy crops for production of biofuels such as ethanol from lignocellulosic plant material. This acquisition positions Mendel to be the leading developer of Miscanthus varieties for the cellulosic ethanol industry worldwide. "We are extremely pleased to have been able to bring Tinplant's Miscanthus germplasm collection and developed varieties into our breeding program" said Neal Gutterson, Mendel's President and Chief Executive Officer. "We are equally excited about the establishment of a breeding collaboration with Tinplant, which has been the leader to date in Miscanthus variety development. This relationship will also give us a presence in Europe for further development and commercialization activities." "The Tinplant Team has spent 15 years of research and breeding of more than 1000 different Miscanthus varieties in order to improve the excellent properties of this high yielding bio-mass plant for our environment and future generations', noted Frederick Hoelk, sole owner of Tinplant GmbH. "I am very excited about our collaboration with Mendel Biotechnology Inc. and about the worldwide exposure of Miscanthus through Mendel. I am pleased and excited that Tinplant's vision is becoming a reality." The detailed terms of the acquisition were not made available. However, the transaction includes a 5-year collaboration between Mendel and Tinplant for ongoing breeding work, and establishes Tinplant as a sales agent for Mendel's Miscanthus varieties.
About Mendel Biotechnology
About Tinplant
Contacts:
Joint News Release of Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. and SweTree Technologies AB Mendel Biotechnology and SweTree Technologies extend their collaboration to jointly exploit the value of more than 100 genes in forestry STT and Mendel announced today that they will jointly exploit the value of over 100 selected transcription factor (TF) genes to be used within the $750 billion forestry field. The collaboration includes a research effort to validate Mendel TF genes for the forestry field as well as a commercial effort to advance identified products. 'As an industry leader in applying pathway biology to improve performance of commercial plants, this extended collaboration is another important step for Mendel to commercialize our lead biomass and stress tolerance genes in the forestry field. We are very happy with the results from our first collaboration with SweTree which identified significant, beneficial traits in Poplar trees for the tested genes from Mendel.' Neal Gutterson, President & Chief Executive Officer, Mendel Biotechnology. 'We anticipate that our carefully selected genes for the second step in our collaboration will provide additional valuable traits including improved wood quality and improved productivity.' Mendel has demonstrated that many transcription factor genes improve growth rate and stress tolerance in commercial plants in the agriculture field. The parties have entered into this new, expanded collaboration to identify those genes that are effective in tree species and to commercialise the resulting varieties. 'The results from our first collaboration step have been very encouraging both scientifically and commercially. The forest industry has already shown interest in certain genes from the project,' said Mats Johnson, CEO of SweTree Technologies AB. 'We expect this second collaboration step to be of large importance for the commercial development of forest biotechnology.' SweTree Technologies (STT) is a forest biotechnology company that develops new products for the forest industry and some of its larger customer groups. The company focuses on developing trees with higher survival rate, growth and wood quality as well as new technologies for fibre modification of cellulose. STT develops its own products and take value shares in our collaboration partners and customer products where our technology is used. The company was founded in 1999 by a joint initiative between the Foundation of Technology Transfer (Innovationsbron) in Umeå and the company Woodheads AB, which now represents 45 senior academic researchers in the forest biotechnology field in Sweden. In 2002 the JC Kempe Foundations became owner and the main financial sponsor. In 2005 three large forest owners in Sweden, Sveaskog AB, Bergvik Skog AB and Holmen AB became additional owners. The company has its centre in Umeå, Sweden as well as offices and a research laboratory in Uppsala, Sweden. Founded in 1997, Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. was a pioneer in the application of functional genomics to the study of plant genes. Mendel has functionally characterized essentially the complete complement of plant transcription factors using Arabidopsis thaliana. Mendel has important technology partnerships with Monsanto Company and other multi-national ag-products companies, for the development of products based on Mendel's technologies. Mendel is now applying its technologies to the development of superior biofeedstock crops.
To find out more about Mendel Biotechnology, please see our internet web site at: http://www.mendelbio.com
Neal Gutterson Is Promoted to President and Chief Executive Officer of Mendel Biotechnology, Inc.
Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. announced today that Neal Gutterson has been appointed president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the company. Gutterson, a 24-year veteran of the plant biotechnology industry, has served as the company's president and chief operating officer since December 2005. He succeeds Chris Somerville who resigned to focus on academic interests. In making the announcement, Mendel Chairman Chris Somerville said, "Neal has demonstrated his abilities to lead the company by his successes in a series of senior executive roles at the company during the past five years. Neal's strong operational background, coupled with his knowledge of the business and his clear vision of the opportunities and challenges in agriculture and bioenergy, made him the board's choice to lead Mendel going forward." "We have reached an important transition point in Mendel's business," Gutterson said. "Agricultural biotechnology and genomics have great value, and Mendel remains a leader in the development and application of these technologies for the row crop seed industry. During the past ten years, however, the company has matured to the point that we are now ready to diversify our application of these technologies to maximize long-term enterprise value while enhancing short-term revenue growth." Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. is a functional genomics company that creates value through the discovery, development, and commercialization of knowledge about plant gene expression. Mendel is developing new products for large acreage agricultural crops and bioenergy crops in collaboration with industry leaders. Background Neal Gutterson - President and Chief Executive Officer - Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. Neal Gutterson was born August 24, 1955, in New York. He earned a Bachelors of Science degree in Chemistry at Yale University followed by a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of California Berkeley. He completed an executive education program at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Neal joined Mendel in July 2002. He was previously Vice President of Research at DNA Plant Technologies, Inc. Since 2005, Neal served as Mendel's President and Chief Operating Officer with overall responsibility for leading the operations of the biotechnology traits, chemistry and bio-energy seeds business segments, inclusive of intellectual property prosecution and strategy. Neal is a member of the Food and Agriculture Section Governing Body of the BIO organization.
Selecta Klemm and Mendel Biotechnology to establish Ornamental Bioscience
German-based Selecta Klemm and US-based Mendel Biotechnology Inc. today announce their definitive agreement to form a joint venture to develop and market transgenic ornamental plants. The new entity, Ornamental Bioscience (www.Ornamental-Bioscience.com), combines Mendel's technological expertise and patent estate in drought, cold and freeze tolerance, disease resistance and flower stability traits along with Selecta's experience in plant transformation technology, its extensive variety patent estate and experience in marketing ornamentals world wide. Ornamental Bioscience has secured commercial rights to critical enabling technology, through Mendel, that enable it to bring transgenic ornamental plants to the marketplace.
According to Christian Klemm, CEO of Ornamental BioScience: Ornamental Bioscience today is working exclusively on crops from the Selecta product range, successfully transforming Petunias, Poinsettias, New Guinea Impatiens and Geraniums. In the coming years the range of products is expected to extend greatly. We believe that this technology has an exciting future and intend to contribute to its acceptance as an industry standard. As part of this strategy, we will cooperate with leading breeders and distributors for pot plants and cut flowers. Ornamental Bioscience has an exceptional opportunity to bring value to the market by combining the expertise of Mendel's discoveries of the functions of genetic switches that control many important aspects of plant growth, metabolism and stress responses and Selecta's experience. Over the past decade Selecta has added the skill of developing successful transformation protocol to its outstanding expertise in breeding, manufacturing and marketing ornamental plants world wide.
About Selecta group Innovation and sustainability are the driving force behind Selecta's development. The latest testimony to this is the development and exclusive introduction of the world's first double flowered Calibrachoa to market in 2006. Selecta has been active in the field of biotechnology since 1996. The company cooperated in developing a blue carnation with Florigene of Australia. Blue carnations are to date the only transgenic ornamental plants manufactured and distributed throughout the world. Following this, in 2002, Selecta identified abiotic stress tolerance as a key issue for the future market and began work under a technology license from Mendel. In 2005, a disease resistance program was established. Currently transgenic Petunias, Poinsettias, New Guinea Impatiens and Geraniums are being evaluated for frost, drought and disease resistance. For more information visist: www.selectaworld.com
About Mendel Biotechnology For more information visit: www.mendelbio.com
Christian Klemm
Ornamental Bioscience GmbH
Mendel Biotechnology Announces Agreement with Monsanto
HAYWARD, California, July 10, 2006 /PRNewswire/ -- Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. ("Mendel") today announced a new research and commercialization partnership with Monsanto Company ("Monsanto"). The new program represents a significant expansion of the ongoing collaboration between the companies and extends the agreement through 2011. Mendel and Monsanto have agreed not to disclose financial details of the agreement. Monsanto and Mendel will continue to collaborate on the commercialization by Monsanto of technologies developed by Mendel. In addition, the companies will initiate a systems biology program to develop an integrated framework for predictive control of plant gene expression that is anticipated to streamline discovery and product development activities. Monsanto's successful commercialization of products incorporating Mendel's technology will result in milestone and royalty payments. This new partnership extends the relationship initiated in 1997, under which Mendel executed a functional genomics program in the model plant Arabidopsis focused on understanding the factors that control plant gene expression. That program identified a number of genes that have been shown to enhance the yield of major crops in extensive field trials and that are in early commercial development by Monsanto. Under the terms of the new agreement, Mendel and Monsanto will collaborate on advancing these and other inventions toward commercialization. "We are extremely pleased that Monsanto continues to value our science and technology products, and that we will have the opportunity to collaborate with them on the commercialization of Monsanto seed products incorporating Mendel technology," said Neal Gutterson, Mendel's President and Chief Operating Officer. "Monsanto is the acknowledged global leader in the development and commercialization of high-value, sustainable agricultural products that bring value to growers and improve the abundance and nutritional value of food and feed crops. They offer an excellent channel to major markets for Mendel's discoveries and we are committed to delivering products to Monsanto in a set of agricultural and vegetable crops." Steve Padgette, Ph.D., Vice President of Biotechnology at Monsanto added, "Mendel has provided us with important technologies that we are evaluating in our biotech crop testing program, some of which we are advancing toward commercialization. Mendel continues to be an excellent partner, and we are looking forward to leveraging their expertise in model crops to accelerate product development. Mendel has been particularly effective delivering advanced leads for soybean seed products with enhanced yield, with one product candidate already in Monsanto's Phase II early development pipeline."
About Mendel Biotechnology
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Mendel Biotechnology Awarded SBIR Phase IIB Grant for Continued Research on Disease Resistance
HAYWARD, California -- 15 December 2005 -- Mendel Biotechnology, Inc., a privately held biotechnology company, announced today that it was granted a Phase IIB Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Science Foundation. The SBIR phase IIB grant provides two years of supplemental funding for a Phase II grant awarded to Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. for development of crops with improved disease resistance, based on matching funds from a third party investor. Protection of crops against fungal pathogens is one of the most significant unmet needs in agriculture. Over $600 million is spent each year in the United States to protect plants against fungal pathogens. Nonetheless, annual losses to fungal pathogens are approximately $900 million in North America for soybean alone, with total crop losses of approximately $5 billion. The grant will fund research that aims to enhance a plant's natural ability to resist pathogen infection, thereby reducing or eliminating the need for fungicides. T. Lynne Reuber, Ph.D., Director of Research, will serve as the Principal Investigator of the grant. Founded in 1997, Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. was a pioneer in the application of functional genomics to the study of plant genes. Mendel's initial mission, now largely complete, was to discover and characterize the function of plant transcription factor genes as the basis for creating novel products for agriculture. Mendel is now commercializing transcription factor technologies in the agricultural biotechnology and chemistry sectors. Products incorporating Mendel technologies are being developed for large acreage row crops, and for the forestry, ornamental and horticultural markets. Mendel has partnerships with leading agriculture companies, including Monsanto, the world's leader in commercializing transgenic crops.
Mendel Biotechnology Names Neal Gutterson President and COO
HAYWARD, California -- 13 December 2005 -- Mendel Biotechnology announced the promotion of Neal Gutterson to President and COO. Oliver Ratcliffe has been promoted to Vice President, Research and James Zhang has been promoted to Vice President, Business Development. Founded in 1997, Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. was a pioneer in the application of functional genomics to the study of plant genes. Mendel's initial mission, now largely complete, was to discover and characterize the function of plant transcription factor genes as the basis for creating novel products for agriculture. Mendel is now commercializing transcription factor technologies in the agricultural biotechnology and chemistry sectors. Products incorporating Mendel technologies are being developed for large acreage row crops, and for the forestry, ornamental and horticultural markets. Mendel has partnerships with leading agriculture companies, including Monsanto, the world's leader in commercializing transgenic crops.
Mendel Biotechnology Awarded SBIR Phase II Grant for
Continued Research on Wide Spectrum Disease Resistance
Mendel Biotechnology, Inc., a privately held biotechnology company, announced today that it was granted a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Science Foundation. The SBIR phase II grant provides additional funding for Mendel's development of commercially important crops using transcriptional regulators for improved disease resistance. Protection of crops against fungal pathogens is one of the most significant unmet needs in agriculture. Over $600 million is spent each year in the United States to protect plants against fungal pathogens. Nonetheless, annual losses to fungal pathogens are approximately $900 million in North America for soybean alone, with total crop losses of approximately $5 billion. The grant will fund research that aims to enhance a plant's natural ability to resist pathogen infection, thereby reducing or eliminating the need for fungicides. Karen Century, Ph.D., Senior Scientist, will serve as the Principal Investigator of the grant. Founded in 1997, Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. was a pioneer in the application of functional genomics to the study of plant genes. Mendel's initial mission, now largely complete, was to discover and characterize the function of plant transcription factor genes as the basis for creating novel products for agriculture. Mendel is now commercializing transcription factor technologies in the agricultural biotechnology and chemistry sectors. Products incorporating Mendel technologies are being developed for large acreage row crops, and for the forestry, ornamental and horticultural markets. Mendel has partnerships with leading agriculture companies, including Monsanto, the world's leader in commercializing transgenic crops.
Mendel's role in Monsanto trait development program
highlighted in September 2005 issue of Business 2.0
An article in the September 2005 issue of Business 2.0 outlines how Monsanto has become the dominant force in the world in developing new crops based on directed genetic modification. The article also notes that Monsanto has sourced discoveries concerning the identity of genes that control traits such as drought tolerance from Mendel Biotechnology, and that such traits are expected to strongly enhance plant productivity in many regions of the world where recurring droughts are a major limitation to plant productivity. Joint News Release of Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. and SweTree Technologies AB
Mendel Biotechnology and SweTree Technologies will jointly exploit the value of certain genes in forestry Both companies announced today that they will jointly exploit the value of certain transcription factor (TF) genes within the $750 billion forestry field, among them the Hercules gene. The collaboration includes a research effort to validate certain Mendel lead TF genes for the forestry field as well as a commercial effort to advance identified products. 'As an industry leader in applying pathway biology to improvement of commercial plant performance, this collaboration is an important step for Mendel to commercialize our lead biomass genes in the forestry field. We also welcome the opportunity to collaborate with an industry leader in forest biotechnology', commented Neal Gutterson, COO, Mendel Biotechnology. Mendel has demonstrated that the Hercules gene and other transcription factor genes improve growth rate in commercial plants in the agriculture field. To validate this for the selected genes and commercialise the resulting varieties if successful the parties have entered into this collaboration. "We welcome this validation of our technology platform for forestry innovations" said Mats Johnson, CEO of SweTree Technologies AB. "This will further enhance our leadership in the forestry biotechnology field leading to improved productivity in forestry ." SweTree Technologies is a research and development company that specializes in biotechnology for tomorrow's forest and agricultural industries. SweTree Technologies provides technologies and products for the seedling and forestry industry, fibre based industries such as pulp, paper and packaging industry, and for niche areas of the agricultural biotech business. SweTree Technologies main interest is in genes that improve the growth of trees and their wood and fibre properties. The company is associated with 45 renowned research leaders in plant and forest biotechnology residing in several universities in Sweden. SweTree Technologies AB was founded in 1999 by a joint initiative between the foundation of technology transfer (Teknikbrostiftelsen) in Umea and the company Woodheads AB. Founded in 1997, Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. is a pioneer in the application of functional genomics to the study of plant genes. Mendel's mission is to discover and characterize the function of plant regulatory genes and to develop and commercialize high-value products based on these discoveries through leading seed and germplasm companies. Mendel has functionally characterized essentially the complete complement of plant transcription factors using Arabidopsis thaliana. Mendel has important partnerships with Monsanto Company, Seminis Vegetable Seeds, and other multi-national ag-products companies.
To find out more about Mendel Biotechnology, please see our internet web site at: http://www.mendelbio.com
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Mendel Biotechnology Mendel Biotechnology Awarded SBIR Phase II Grant for Continued Research to Increase Production of Natural Rubber Mendel Biotechnology, Inc., a privately held biotechnology company, announced today that it was granted a Phase II Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The grant will fund research at Mendel, the USDA's Western Regional Research Center and the University of Arizona to discover and develop naturally occurring plant genes that control the production of latex rubber. The research will focus on increasing the amount of rubber made in the Guayule plant, which grows naturally in the American South West. Guayule produces high quality latex rubber that is suitable for the manufacture of high value, hypoallergenic latex products used in medical devices. This is the sixth SBIR grant awarded to Mendel."Mendel is very excited to be working with Dr. Katrina Cornish (USDA Agricultural Research Service) and Dr. Dennis Ray (University of Arizona) to develop technology to improve latex production in Guayule", said Robert Creelman, Ph.D., Senior Scientist and Principal Investigator of the grant. "This Phase II SBIR grant will fund work that combines Dr. Cornish's extensive knowledge on rubber biosynthesis, Dr. Ray's many years of expertise in Guayule breeding, and Mendel Biotechnology's expertise in the function and regulation of transcription factors." Dr. Creelman goes on the say, "I am optimistic that with this grant, we can create improved varieties of Guayule that will accumulate more biomass, rubber, and resin. Because Guayule grows in the United States, we expect these improved varieties to create new opportunities for American farmers and decrease U.S. dependence on imported rubber from Asia and the use of synthetic rubber produced from fossil fuels."
Founded in 1997, Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. is a pioneer in the application of functional genomics to the study of plant genes. Mendel's mission is to discover and characterize the function of plant regulatory genes and to develop and commercialize high-value products based on these discoveries. Mendel's products will benefit customers in agriculture, specialty ingredient, forestry and horticulture markets. Mendel has partnerships with three of the six largest agriculture companies, including Monsanto, the world's leader in commercializing transgenic crops, and Seminis, the world's largest vegetable seeds company.
MENDEL BIOTECHNOLOGY RECEIVES SBIR GRANT TO IMPROVE PRODUCTION OF PLANT DERIVED PHARMACEUTICALS Mendel Biotechnology, Inc., a privately held biotechnology company, announced today it was awarded a Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grant from the National Cancer Institute. The grant will fund research to discover naturally occurring plant genes that regulate the production of Taxol¨, which is one of the most promising antitumor agents developed in the past three decades. Taxol¨ is a member of a class of pharmaceuticals known as taxoids that are produced in the cells of yew trees. The aim of the research is to identify naturally occurring plant genes that can increase the sustainable production of taxoid pharmaceuticals in plant cells."This is the second grant Mendel has received this year that exploits our unique expertise in plant regulatory genes to increase production of high value products such as taxoid pharmaceuticals," said William F. Goure, VP of Commercial Development for Mendel. "Many important pharmaceuticals such as Taxol¨ are derived from plant-produced chemicals, including numerous next generation pharmaceuticals now in development. Because such chemicals are typically produced in very low quantities in plants, they are often very expensive. We believe our unique technology makes it possible for Mendel scientists to quickly discover natural plant genes that can be used to increase the production and reduce the costs of many plant derived pharmaceuticals." Pierre Broun, Ph.D., Senior Scientist, will serve as the Principal Investigator of the grant. Founded in 1997, Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. is a pioneer in the application of functional genomics to the study of plant genes. MendelŐs mission is to discover and characterize the function of plant regulatory genes and to develop and commercialize high-value products based on these discoveries. MendelŐs products could benefit customers in agriculture, healthcare, specialty ingredient, forestry and horticulture markets. Mendel has partnerships with three of the six largest agriculture companies, including Monsanto. For more information, visit: www.mendelbio.com. For more information, please contact: William Goure Vice-President, Commercial Development Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. (510) 259-6122 wgoure@mendelbio.com MENDEL BIOTECHNOLOGY AWARDED SBIR GRANT FOR RESEARCH TO INCREASE PRODUCTION OF NATURAL RUBBER Mendel Biotechnology, Inc., a privately held biotechnology company, announced today that it was granted a Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grant from the United States Department of Agriculture. The grant will fund research to discover naturally occurring plant genes that regulate the production of natural rubber. The research will focus on doubling the amount of rubber made in the Guayule plant, which grows naturally in the American South West. Guayule produces high quality latex rubber that is suitable for the manufacture of high value, hypoallergenic latex products used in medical devices. This is the third SBIR grant awarded to Mendel."This grant makes it possible for Mendel to use its unique expertise in plant regulatory genes to create plant biofactories that produce high margin products such as hypoallergenic latex rubber," said William F. Goure, VP of Commercial Development for Mendel. "Today most rubber is produced in fossil fuel chemical plants or by tropical rubber trees. By changing the level of naturally occurring plant regulatory genes, we are optimistic that we can create improved varieties of Guayule that make twice as much rubber. Since Guayule grows in the United States, these improved varieties will create opportunities for American farmers, reduce our dependence on imported rubber, and decrease our use of synthetic rubber." Robert A. Creelman, Ph.D., Senior Scientist, will serve as the Principal Investigator of the grant. Founded in 1997, Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. is a pioneer in the application of functional genomics to the study of plant genes. MendelŐs mission is to discover and characterize the function of plant regulatory genes and to develop and commercialize high-value products based on these discoveries. MendelŐs products could benefit customers in agriculture, healthcare, specialty ingredient, forestry and horticulture markets. Mendel has partnerships with three of the six largest agriculture companies, including Monsanto, and Savia, the worldŐs largest vegetable company. For more information, visit: www.mendelbio.com. For more information, please contact: William Goure MENDEL ANNOUNCES $6 MILLION INVESTMENT Mendel Biotechnology, Inc., a privately held biotechnology company, announced today the completion of a $6 million Series B private placement. The investment, led by the Biotechnology Value Fund, L.P. of San Francisco, represents MendelŐs first institutional private financing.
For more information, please contact: William Goure Mendel Biotechnology Announces a New Five-Year, $20 Million Research and Commercialization Partnership with Monsanto Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. ("Mendel") today announced a new five-year, $20 million research and commercialization partnership with Monsanto Company ("Monsanto"). This new partnership expands the relationship initiated in 1997 in which Mendel successfully identified many genes that regulate high-value plant traits such as enhanced yield, drought resistance, and disease resistance. If commercialized, Mendel will receive royalties from Monsanto on products containing these genes. "Mendel is extremely pleased that Monsanto has agreed to this expansion of our strategic partnership to discover and advance high value, plant genes," said Dave Summa, MendelŐs president and chief executive officer. "Our first collaboration was about discovering gene function. This new collaboration will continue that successful work and move into lead advancement. Monsanto is a world leader in the development and commercialization of high-value, sustainable agricultural products that bring value to growers and improve the abundance and nutritional value of food and feed crops. They are a great channel to global agricultural markets for MendelŐs discoveries." Rick Stonard, Ph.D., vice president of genomics at Monsanto added, "Mendel has delivered on time and on budget. This extension provides Monsanto with continuing access to MendelŐs gene function discovery and lead advancement capabilities. We expect that Mendel will continue to play an important role in our integrated genomics network." About Mendel Biotechnology Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. is a pioneer in the application of functional genomics to the study of plant genes. MendelŐs mission is to discover and characterize the function of important plant genes and to develop and commercialize high-value products based on these discoveries. These products will benefit customers in agriculture, healthcare, specialty ingredient, forestry and horticulture markets. Mendel has a growing collection of the most valuable genes in the plant kingdom, and is pioneering new technologies to bring these discoveries to markets globally. For more information, visit: www.mendelbio.com. For more information, please contact: William Goure Mendel Biotechnology Completes Fifth Update of its Gene Function Database One Year Ahead of Schedule. Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. announces delivery one year ahead of schedule of the fifth update of its gene function database to strategic partners Savia and Monsanto. "Completion of this update of our gene function database is a very significant accomplishment for Mendel. It puts us on track to complete all milestones in our strategic partnership with Savia and Monsanto fully one year ahead of the original schedule," said Dave Summa, President and CEO of Mendel. "In November 1997, Mendel, Savia and Monsanto initiated a strategic partnership that required Mendel to identify, clone and functionally characterize a minimum number of plant genes over a five-year period. However, Mendel scientists significantly accelerated our gene function discovery engine, and now will functionally characterize more than the minimum number of genes within four years." Dr. Peter Davis, President of DNA Plant Technology (DNAP), the plant biotechnology subsidiary of Savia, added, "The quality of Mendel's gene function program is excellent and Mendel has been an effective partner in DNAP's trait discovery efforts. Mendel continues to be a leader in the identification of very promising genes to improve the yield, disease resistance, environmental stress tolerance, and improved nutritional quality of plants for the benefit of farmers and consumers." "Mendel has met our expectations for functionally characterized genes," said Dr. Rick Stonard, Vice-President of Genomics for Monsanto. "The quality and number of commercial leads provided by Mendel remains on track, and validates the value of Monsanto's early investment in Mendel and plant genomics." Savia has options to develop and commercialize Mendel's discoveries in certain vegetables and fruits. Monsanto has options to develop and commercialize MendelŐs discoveries in certain agricultural crops. Mendel retains all rights to develop and commercialize discoveries in all other plants, including forestry and horticultural plants, important agricultural crops such as barley, oats, sorghum, sugar beets, and sweet potatoes, and various specialty oil seed crops. About Mendel Biotechnology Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. is a pioneer in the application of functional genomics to the study of plant genes. Nature already produces a rich diversity of plant-derived products that provide much of the world's food, feed, fiber and fine chemicals. Functional genomics seeks the genetic keys to unlock this diversity. Mendel's business objective is to discover and characterize the function of important plant genes and to develop and commercialize high-value products based on these discoveries. These products will benefit customers in agriculture, healthcare, specialty ingredient, forestry and horticulture markets. Mendel has a growing collection of the most valuable genes in the plant kingdom, and is pioneering new technologies to bring these discoveries to markets globally. For more information, visit: www.mendelbio.com. For more information, please contact: William Goure Mendel Biotechnology and Seminis Share $4.2 Million Grant to Develop Novel Genomics Tools for Plant Breeders. Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. and Seminis, Inc. announced today receipt of a $4.2 million matching grant from the Advanced Technology Program of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. This grant is for development of novel genomics tools to produce new agricultural crops with high-value traits. Based on proprietary technology discovered by Mendel scientists, these tools will make it possible for plant breeders to conduct functional genomics in commercial crops through the simple process of making traditional crosses between plants. Mendel and Seminis will work together to develop this innovative technology to create improved traits in plants, starting with improvements in tomato. "Mendel is pleased to join Seminis as recipient of this prestigious grant," said Dave Summa, President and CEO of Mendel. "This grant will fund development of technology that significantly improves plant functional genomics. With this technology, not only can we conduct gene discovery directly in commercial crops, skipping work in model systems, we can also generate very large numbers of promoter-gene combinations inexpensively and fast. Our industry needs new tools to increase the speed of discovery, shorten development timelines, and reduce development risk, all at a lower cost. This technology does exactly that." Ed Green Ph.D, Senior Vice President of R&D at Seminis concurred. "When this technology is fully developed we expect it will significantly reduce the costs and time needed to develop new varieties of crops with improved agronomic and nutritional characteristics. These tools promise to make biotechnology more available to seed producers, and will benefit both farmers and consumers." "While SeminisŐ near-term success relies on traditionally developed products, the company firmly believes that this technology and research will be a cornerstone of our long-term capabilities and growth potential," added Dr. Green. The Advanced Technology Program provides cost-shared funding to industry for high-risk R&D projects with the potential to spark important, broad-based economic benefits for the United States. ATP support significantly accelerates potentially important R&D projects that industry on its own can not fully support because of the technical risks involved. ATP awards are made on the basis of a rigorous competitive review considering scientific and technical merit of each proposal and its potential benefits to the U.S. economy. The program is managed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, an agency of the Commerce DepartmentŐs Technology Administration. For more information about the Advanced Technology Program, visit: www.atp.nist.gov. About Mendel Biotechnology Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. is a pioneer in the application of functional genomics to the study of plant genes. Nature already produces a rich diversity of plant-derived products that provide much of the worldŐs food, feed, fiber and fine chemicals. Functional genomics seeks the genetic keys to unlock this diversity. MendelŐs business objective is to discover and characterize the function of important plant genes and to develop and commercialize high-value products based on these discoveries. These products will benefit customers in agriculture, healthcare, specialty ingredient, forestry and horticulture markets. Mendel has a growing collection of the most valuable genes in the plant kingdom, and is pioneering new technologies to bring these discoveries to markets globally. For more information, visit: www.mendelbio.com. About Seminis, Inc. Seminis, Inc. (Nasdaq: SMNS) is the largest developer, producer and marketer of vegetable seeds in the world. The company uses seeds as the delivery vehicle for innovative agricultural technology. Its products are designed to reduce the need for agricultural chemicals, increase crop yield, reduce spoilage, offer longer shelf life, create better tasting foods and foods with better nutritional content. Seminis has established a worldwide presence and global distribution network that spans 120 countries. Seminis is a majority owned subsidiary of Savia (NYSE: VAI), a Mexico-based conglomerate with leadership positions in financial services, packaging and fresh foods. For more information, please contact: William Goure Gary Koppenjan Michael Baum Mendel Biotechnology Announces the Identification of the Complete Set of Transcription Factors in Arabidopsis Thaliana Scientists at Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. announced that they have identified the complete set of transcription factor genes in the small mustard plant, Arabidopsis thaliana. In a paper to appear in the December 15 issue of Science, Mendel scientists describe a comprehensive comparative analysis of transcription factors from plants, animals and fungi. This paper is being published at the same time scientists are announcing completion of the sequencing of the whole genome of Arabidopsis, which is the first higher plant whose genome has been completely sequenced. "MendelŐs identification of the complete set of Arabidopsis transcription factors is an important milestone," according to Dr Christopher Somerville, Chairman of Mendel and Director of the Carnegie InstitutionŐs Department of Plant Biology. "This knowledge, coupled with MendelŐs fully operational functional genomics engine, is accelerating discovery of the function of transcription factors, not only from Arabidopsis, but also from other plant species such as soybeans and corn." "This is a major achievement for Mendel," adds Dave Summa, President and CEO. "We believe transcription factors are the keys for unlocking gene function and harnessing natureŐs diversity to produce better crops, plant-derived medicines and specialty chemicals." Plant transcription factors are a class of regulatory genes that turn on or off multi-gene pathways, resulting in significant changes in plant characteristics. Thus, transcription factor genes are natural "switches" for pathways that control many important plant traits. Dr. Elliot Meyerowitz, Chair of the Division of Biology at the California Institute of Technology, stated "MendelŐs identification of the complete set of Arabidopsis transcription factors is significant since it allows scientists to map the gene pathways that control plant characteristics and use this knowledge to engineer plants with higher yields, better nutrition, and more tolerance to diseases and environmental stresses." Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. is a pioneer in the application of functional genomics to the study of plant regulatory genes. MendelŐs objective is to discover and characterize the function of important plant genes and then develop and commercialize high-value products based on these discoveries. These products will benefit customers in agriculture, healthcare, specialty ingredients and consumer product markets. For more information, please contact: William F. Goure Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. Awarded SBIR PHASE II Grant Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. announced today the award of a two-year , $400,000 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II award grant from the Division of Design, Manufacture and Industrial Innovation of the US National Science Foundation. The SBIR phase II grant provides additional funding for Mendel's development of commercially important crops using its WeatherGard™ technology for improved frost and drought tolerance. Freezing and drought are two of the most systematic plagues affecting agriculture. It is estimated that global crop losses due to frost damage and drought exceed $10 billion annually. "We are delighted to receive the award," commented William Goure, VP of Commercial Development for Mendel. " With this grant, Mendel can more aggressively develop our WeatherGard technology in canola and other important agricultural crops. We expect WeatherGard crops with improved frost and drought tolerance to be important contributors to increased global food production. Additionally, our efforts will expand previous studies showing that heterologous plant genes, in particular those from Arabidopsis thaliana, can be used to dramatically improve stress tolerance and other valuable traits in commercially relevant crops." The WeatherGard technology has been exclusively licensed by Mendel from Michigan State University. Mendel is collaborating with academic and industrial leaders to bring WeatherGard technology to the world's farmers. Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. is a pioneer in the application of functional genomics to the study of plant genes. Mendel's business objective is to discover and characterize the function of important plant genes and to develop and commercialize high-margin products based on these discoveries. These products will benefit customers in agriculture, healthcare, specialty ingredient, and consumer products markets. Mendel has already identified several significant leads including those that:
Mendel employs over 60 people and is a privately held company located in Hayward, California. Mendel Biotechnology Appoints New President and CEO HAYWARD, California--(BW HealthWire)--Feb. 16, 2000--Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. announced today the appointment of David W. Summa as President and CEO. He replaces Dr. Michael Fromm who has resigned. Summa previously was with Monsanto Company. At Monsanto he was Vice President of the Global Oilseeds Division and before that, Vice President of the Food, Feed & Fiber Division. During his tenure at Monsanto he launched Monsanto's quality trait program and negotiated a number of alliances and joint ventures, including the Renessen joint venture with Cargill. Prior to Monsanto, Summa was a partner at McKinsey & Co. where he led the Global Innovation Practice and served technology-based clients globally. He has been associated with the plant biotechnology industry since 1992 and has made several significant innovations in the plant biotechnology field including the grower license agreement as a sustainable way to capture value from biotechnology. He holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in chemical engineering, both from MIT. "We are very pleased to have Dave join Mendel's management team," said Chris Somerville, Chairman of the Board. "He has the expertise and drive to lead Mendel in its continued growth. He also has the vision to develop existing and new markets for the many product leads Mendel has identified using Mendel's functional genomics platform." Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. is a functional genomics company. The company identifies and develops leads for improving plant characteristics for agriculture, pharmaceuticals, specialty ingredients, horticulture and forestry using its functional genomics platform. Mendel has already identified several significant leads including those that:
Mendel also has a pharmaceutical and specialty ingredient product development program to commercialize other important discoveries. Mendel employs over 50 people and is a privately held company located in Hayward, California CONTACT: Mendel Biotechnology Inc., Bill Goure, 510.259.6122. Mendel Biotechnology Achieves Milestone in Functional Genomics Collaboration HAYWARD, California--(BW HealthWire)--Dec. 17, 1999--Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. announced today that it has achieved a major milestone in its functional genomics collaboration with Monsanto Company and Savia, S.A. Mendel Biotechnology is screening the function of genes in planta and has identified a number of very promising leads to improve the yield, disease resistance, and nutritional value of plants for the benefit of farmers and consumers. "This milestone represents an extraordinary amount of hard work and demonstrates the tangible results coming from early leadership in plant genomics," said Christopher Burnley, Vice President, Genomics Strategy & Alliances, Monsanto Company. The collaboration was initiated in November 1997, and requires Mendel Biotechnology to provide Monsanto and Savia with a minimum number of functionally characterized genes and leads over a five-year period. "We are ahead of schedule for functionally characterizing the genes and are confident we will meet additional milestone events in the future," said Guo-Liang Yu, Senior Vice President for Research and Development. "We are taking full advantage of the synergies created from interacting closely with scientists at Monsanto and Savia." Monsanto and Savia have rights to develop and commercialize any of the identified leads in certain crops, and certain vegetables and fruits. Mendel Biotechnology retains the rights to develop and commercialize the leads in all other plants. Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. is a plant functional genomics company focused on the discovery and development of technologies to improve plant characteristics for agriculture, horticulture and forestry. Mendel Biotechnology has additional research collaborations with Seminis Vegetable Seeds, Inc., among others. CONTACT: Mendel Biotechnology Inc., Bill Goure, 510.259.6122. Mendel Biotechnology issued patent covering method for increasing cold and drought resistance in plants 14 April 1999 -- Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. announced today that the Patent and Trademark Office has issued U.S. Patent No. 5,891,859 entitled Method for Regulating Cold and Dehydration Regulatory Genes in a Plant. The patent provides methods for regulating the expression of cold and dehydration regulated genes in a plant by transforming a plant with CBF1 or a homologous gene, and then expressing the gene. In addition, Mendel Biotechnology has received Notices of Allowance for a number of other related patent applications. CBF1 is a transcription factor that binds to the upstream region of specific cold and drought regulated genes and enhances the cold and drought resistance of plants expressing CBF1. CBF1 is being commercialized under the WeatherGardTM trademark. Plants with the WeatherGardTM gene will be more resistant to freezing and to drought said Dr. Michael Fromm, Mendel's President and CEO. These are very important traits as the recent $650 million of freezing damage to the California citrus crop and the $1,600 million of drought damage to Texas crops demonstrate. Mendel is working with partners to introduce the WeatherGardTM gene into various crops to create new stress-resistant plants. Reducing the weather-related risks of farming should reduce the stress of being a farmer as well. The issued patent covers technology, which is being developed by Dr. Mike Thomashow at Michigan State University in association with Mendel Biotechnology and has been exclusively licensed to Mendel Biotechnology. The license grants Mendel Biotechnology the right to sublicense the technology for environmental stress resistance in different crops. Mendel Biotechnology, Inc. is a plant functional genomics company focused on the discovery and development of technologies that will improve plant traits for agriculture, horticulture and forestry. Mendel Biotechnology has established research collaborations with Monsanto, Empresas La Moderna (ELM) and Seminis Vegetable Seeds, a subsidiary of ELM. CONTACT: Mendel Biotechnology Inc., Bill Goure, 510.259.6122. Gene promises key to crop cold resistance April 2, 1998, EAST LANSING, Mich. - Farmers one day may be able to flip the molecular switch that makes plants tolerate freezing temperatures, thanks to new insight Michigan State University scientists have gained about plants' mechanisms to cope with cold. According to a report published in the April 3 edition of Science Magazine, molecular geneticist Michael Thomashow and his associates report that increasing a plant's expression of a specific regulatory gene helps throw the plant into cold-coping mode, beefing up its defenses against freezing. "If we have the molecular switch to turn off and on the genes at will, we can potentially lengthen the safe growing season," Thomashow said. "This is significant information that has the potential of modifying the natural process and tailoring it to specific needs." Plants always have had what it takes to adjust to drops in temperatures - but they need warning. A cherry tree faced with a cooling trend can shift into protective behavior, bracing itself to weather gradual freezes. But sudden freezes - such as those seen across the nation in recent weeks - can sound the death knell because they catch a plant unawares. Traditional plant breeding over the past century has made little progress in increasing cold tolerance. Thomashow, a professor of crop and soil science, along with research associates Eric Stockinger and Sarah Gilmour and graduate students Kirsten Jaglo-Ottosen and Daniel Zarka, dove into the molecular lives of plant cells to understand how a plant turns on its cold tolerance mechanisms in the plant's DNA sequence. Their work has led to the identification of a regulatory gene - called CBFI - that encodes a protein which ultimately turns on the COR, or cold-regulated genes. Over expression of CBF1 induces COR gene expression without the presence of cold temperatures. In effect, it fools the plant into thinking a cold spell has struck. The COR genes act, at least in part, by stabilizing membranes - the primary site of freeze-induced injury. Identifying the CBF1 switch holds the promise of giving farmers the ability to turn on that switch when needed. Thomashow and the others did their initial work on the plant Arabidopsis, a member of the mustard family. But he said that it appears the basic mechanism is highly conserved in plants that have the ability to acclimate to the cold. Tropical plants, such as bananas, may not have the mechanism to begin with and thus might not have the potential to grow in the north? But there is potential to raise a wide variety of crops in places they currently cannot grow. It could mean protecting a grove of cherry trees from a sudden frost, for instance, or harvesting fields of grain in fields now deemed too cold. Thomashow can see possibilities in learning to link the cold-regulation gene switch to an environmentally safe spray that farmers could apply before a cold snap to ready the crops. And since the defense plants employ to ward off cold damage is similar to their defenses against drought, the potential also exists to protect crops from dry weather as well. Michigan State University, which has filed patent applications on Thomashow's discovery, has entered into an option to license with Mendel Technologies Inc. of California for the cold and drought resistance technology. "These are genes that already are in the plant," he said. "We're talking about turning them on a little sooner or later by modifying the mechanism plants normally use to sense cold temperatures. It's working with the natural system to optimize it." CONTACT: Mendel Biotechnology Inc., Bill Goure, 510.259.6122. Moderna, Monsanto link up in new venture FOCUS - Moderna, Monsanto link up in new venture Reuters, Monday, November 24, 1997 at 20:09 By David Luhnow MEXICO CITY, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Mexican conglomerate Empresas La Moderna (MEX:MDA.A) and U.S. agricultural giant Monsanto Co (NYSE:MTC) on Monday said they had bought a stake in newly formed agricultural genetic research company Mendel Biotechnology Inc. Each company paid $15 million to fund a five-year research and development project at Mendel, a start-up firm based in San Francisco and headed by some of the world's leading plant genome experts, according to La Moderna officials in Mexico. In return, Moderna and Monsanto each get a 20 percent equity stake in Mendel and rights to develop and commercialize Mendel's technical capabilities in the next generation of value-added agricultural products. Both companies also have an option to buy an additional 10 percent stake in Mendel at an undisclosed future date, La Moderna company spokesman Dieter Holtz told Reuters. Each firm will have rights to Mendel's research in the areas they are interested in and dominate, officials said. Monsanto will focus on Mendel's advances in agronomics, or the capabilities in plant genetics and genomics for many crops, including corn, soybeans, fruits and vegetables. "This collaboration gives us the abilty to better understand the function of specific genes in plants, thereby allowing us to more quickly introduce crops with improved agricultural traits," said Ganesh Kishore, Monsanto's assistant chief scientist and chief biotechnologist. Kishore said the venture will greatly reduce research and development time for products that increase yield or otherwise enhance the growing, processing or nutritional characteristics of food. La Moderna, the world's largest vegetable seed maker, will have access to Mendel's research in vegetable seeds as well as fresh and processed fruits and vegetables. "We will each focus on our core businesses: Monsanto in agronomics and (its herbicide) Roundup and Moderna in vegetable seeds and fruits and vegetables," Holtz said in a telephone interview. Earlier this year, Moderna sold its Asgrow agronomics division to Monsanto for about $240 million in order to focus more on the Mexican company's strength in vegetable seeds. Mendel's president and CEO is Michael Fromm, a former research director at Monsanto, and its chairman of the board is Christopher Sommerville, director of the Department of Plant Biology at the Carnegie Institution of Washington. "These are the best of the best in the field," Holtz said. The top researchers at Mendel were responsible advances in areas such as disease resistance, the molecular genetics of nitrogen fixation in plants and the genetics of photosynthesis, he added. "We didn't want to have majority control of the company because we didn't want to cramp their entrepreneurial spirit. We thought it was better to see what they came up with on their own," Holtz said. Copyright 1997, Reuters News Service Monsanto, Empresas in Joint Venture with Mendel MONSANTO, EMPRESAS IN JOINT VENTURE WITH MENDEL Reuters, Monday, November 24, 1997 at 16:22 ST. LOUIS, Mo., Nov 24 (Reuters) - Monsanto Co (NYSE:MTC) and Empresas La Moderna S.A. (MEX:MDA.A) said Monday they signed a broad technology collaboration agreement with Mendel Biotechnology Inc in the field of agricultural functional genomics. The agreement gives Monsanto and Empresas exclusive access to Mendel's technical capabilities in plant genetics and genomics for many crops, including corn, soybeans, fruits and vegetables. As part of the agreement, Monsanto and Empresas will each acquire a substantial minority equity interest in Mendel and fund a research and development program over five years. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. "This collaboration gives us the abilty to better understand the function of specific genes in plants, thereby allowing us to more quickly introduce crops with improved agricultural traits," said Ganesh Kishore, Monsanto's assistant chief scientist and chief biotechnologist. Kishore said the venture will greatly reduce research and development time for products that increase yield, or otherwise enhance the growing, processing or nutritional characteristics of food. Copyright 1997 Monsanto and ELM Enter Into Joint Technology Venture With Mendel Biotechnology PR Newswire, Monday, November 24, 1997 at 19:46 ST. LOUIS, Nov. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Monsanto Company and Empresas La Moderna, S.A., (ELM) jointly have signed a broad technology collaboration agreement with Mendel Biotechnology Inc. in the field of agricultural functional genomics. The agreement gives Monsanto and ELM exclusive access to Mendel's technical capabilities in plant genetics and genomics for many crops, including corn and soybeans, and fruits and vegetables. Leaders in the plant genetics and genomics fields to identify the function of genes founded Mendel Biotechnology and patent the corresponding DNA sequences that will produce the intellectual property basis for the next generation of agricultural products created through biotechnology. As part of the agreement, Monsanto and ELM will each acquire a substantial minority equity interest in Mendel and fund a research and development program over a five-year period. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. "This collaboration gives us the ability to better understand the function of specific genes in plants, thereby allowing us to more quickly introduce crops with improved agricultural traits," said Ganesh Kishore, assistant chief scientist and chief biotechnologist of Monsanto. Kishore said the venture will greatly reduce research and development time for products that increase yield, or otherwise enhance the growing, processing or nutritional characteristics of food. "This is our first venture in genomics, and it builds nicely on our original technology agreement with Monsanto as a preferred provider of agronomic and quality traits we're already using in our fruit and vegetable seed and produce businesses," said Alfonso Romo Garza, chairman and chief executive officer of ELM. Through this partnership, ELM will have exclusive rights to Mendel's technology for the development of proprietary, transgenic fruits and vegetable products that create value for growers, processors and consumers. Mendel's founding partners include several of the world's most renowned plant geneticists. Their scientific contributions include the isolation of genes responsible for disease resistance, the molecular genetics of nitrogen fixation in plants, the genetics of photosynthesis and plant oil biosynthesis, the development of synthetic plastic in plants, and the gene transfer technology for corn. "Applying cutting-edge genomics capabilities to the agricultural biotechnology strengths these two leaders have developed is a natural next step in discovering and commercializing improved-trait crops," said Christopher R. Somerville, chairman of Mendel. Somerville also is the director of the Department of Plant Biology at the Carnegie Institution of Washington, and professor of the Department of Biological Sciences at Stanford University. The president and chief executive officer of Mendel Biotechnology is Michael Fromm, a former research director of enabling technologies and plant genomics for Monsanto. As a life sciences company, Monsanto is committed to finding solutions to the growing global needs for food and health by sharing common forms of science and technology among agriculture, nutrition and health. ELM is a leading agribusiness biotechnology company focused on developing and marketing premium branded vegetable seeds, as well as fresh and processed fruits and vegetables. Mendel, a newly formed biotechnology company, specializes in applying functional genomics techniques to create valuable new traits in plants. SOURCE: Monsanto Company 11/24/97 CONTACT: Lori J. Fisher, 314-694-8535 |
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