São Paulo, Brazil
28 November 2012

FuturaGene, a world leader in the enhancement of yield and sustainability of woody crops for plantation forestry, biopower and biofuel markets, is pleased to announce the signing of a Cooperation Framework Agreement with EMBRAPA, (Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária) the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture research organisation. Under the agreement, FuturaGene and EMBRAPA will establish collaborative research programs in eucalyptus and other tree species for the enhancement of sustainable development in Brazil and other territories. The first project to be executed under the agreement will incorporate an aluminium-tolerance gene of EMBRAPA into FuturaGene eucalyptus germplasm to enhance yields in areas affected by aluminium toxicity in the soil.

EMBRAPA is one of the largest public sector tropical agriculture R&D organisations, with strong agroforestry capabilities, an annual R&D budget of over US$1 billion and more than 2,300 researchers in 42 centers located around Brazil. The mission of EMBRAPA, to develop technologies for enhancing food security and crop productivity, underlies the synergies that will allow the two organisations to develop new innovations for sustainable agro-forestry and meet the growing agro-ecological challenges related to productivity.

Mauricio Antonio Lopes, EMBRAPA President,commented: "The partnership we have established with FuturaGene, which begins with the optimization of eucalyptus tolerance to aluminium, enables both companies to maximize their efforts towards sustainable, high yielding crops and the transition to a green economy.”

Dr Stanley Hirsch, CEO of FuturaGene, added: “Agro-forestry is a key weapon in fighting climate change and driving socio-economic development. Yield enhancement through genetic modification is an important factor in sustainable intensification of agro-forestry. Our joint research and development projects with EMBRAPA create a synergy that will allow strengthening of our capacity to improve the genetic diversity and resilience of plantation species and their capacity to restore degraded lands and deal with climate adaptation.”

Under the terms of the agreement, signed at EMBRAPA’s headquarters in Brazil, the partnership focuses on the development of genetic technologies for use in Brazil but allows FuturaGene to apply the technologies developed under the agreement worldwide, ensuring that innovation from forestry research reaches the areas that most need it.
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Website: http://www.futuragene.com

Published: November 28, 2012