St. Louis, Missouri, USA
August 9, 2011
Governor Jay Nixon and BRDG Park President Sam Fiorello, today announced an international addition to the roster of innovative plant science tenants at the BioResearch and Development Growth Park (BRDG Park, pronounced 'bridge") at the Danforth Plant Science Center. BRDG Park's new tenant, SyMyco, is a subsidiary of Symbiotic Sciences, which is headquartered in New Delhi, India and is a joint venture partner with Mycorrhizal Applications, Inc., an Oregon Company. SyMyco expects to employ more than 80 people within the next five years.
SyMyco's research and development focuses on ways to increase crop yields through products that better deliver water and nutrients to farmer fields through beneficial Mycorrhizal fungi. According to SyMyco President Aditya Malhotra, the company's decision to choose Missouri and BRDG Park was directly influenced by its proximity to the world's largest independent plant science institute and its state-of-the-art greenhouses and other facilities.
"At SyMyco, we appreciate the accessibility to the intellectual capital of world-renowned plant scientists and vital facilities that the Danforth Center campus offers," said Malhotra. "Because of this, we believe that establishing our U.S. base at BRDG Park is an ideal platform to help us grow our business and to deliver technologies to farmers that will not only enhance their profitability, but will also help them do so in a more sustainable manner."
A critical piece of the region's offering to SyMyco was a $250,000 low-interest loan provided by the State of Missouri through the Missouri Technology Corporation. Malhotra said the State funds were used to build a specialized growth chamber that is essential to their microbe production.
"With 4,000 bio-tech, agribusiness and life science companies, Missouri is a recognized leader in biotechnology and a growing international center of biopharmaceuticals, biomedical research and plant science," said Missouri Governor Jay Nixon. "We are proud that SyMyco will be a part of one of the fastest growing sectors of Missouri's economy."
SyMyco will occupy space on the top floor of BRDG Park's Building I. BRDG Park president Sam Fiorello said that, "BRDG Park worked with the SyMyco team to create a custom space appropriate for their unique needs. The customized growth chamber that the state funding helped to secure is just one example of what we try to do. In the end, it's about providing an environment that helps our tenants achieve success."
BioResearch & Development Growth (BRDG - pronounced "bridge") Park at the Danforth Plant Science Center helps life sciences companies bridge research, resources and relationships to achieve commercial success. Building I, which opened in June 2009, is a 110,000 ft2, LEED Gold facility, featuring world-class wet laboratories and office space, a prominent incubator, and on-site workforce development and training. BRDG Park's location on the campus of Danforth Center facilitates access to the intellectual capital of top scientists, as well as to greenhouse, growth chambers, microscopy and proteomics facilities and other vital resources. BRDG Park, which will ultimately include three buildings and encompass 450,000 ft2, is being developed by Wexford Science+Technology LLC, a privately held real estate developer and investment company specializing in major university facilities and science research parks in eight major markets. More information is available at www.BRDG-Park.com.
SyMyco is a newly created subsidiary of Symbiotic Sciences, based in New Dehli, India. SyMyco's family of biological fertilizers reduce the need for water and chemical fertilizers. Based on sterile, genetically pure, non-pathogenic mycorrhizae (fungus-roots), the company's fertilizers provide high-quality, cost-effective and scalable bio plant growth solutions that increase yield, improve nutrient and water uptake improve root activity, recapture carbon from the atmosphere and enhance resistance to weeds and disease. Applications range from farms, landscapes and nurseries to soil restoration and erosion control.
Mycorrhizal Applications, Inc. is a joint venture partner of SyMyco. The Oregon-based company is a world leader in the production of mycorrhizal (my-core-rize-ul) inoculums. Mycorrhizal Applications, Inc , has more than 32 years of experience in the practical use of mycorrhizal inoculum and a comprehensive research and application background
The Missouri Technology Corporation ("MTC") is a public-private partnership created by the Missouri General Assembly to promote entrepreneurship and foster the growth of new and emerging high-tech companies. MTC focuses on 21st Century bioscience industries that build on Missouri's rich history in agriculture. MTC is governed by a 15-member board of directors, which is appointed by Missouri's Governor, Speaker of the Missouri House, and President Pro Tem of the Missouri Senate. The President of the University of Missouri System and the Director of the Department of Economic Development are ex officio members of the board. For more information, visit www.missouritechnology.com.
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