Agreement with Chinese forestry academy


 

TIDMFGN 
 
RNS Number : 7280Y 
Futuragene PLC 
09 September 2009 
 

 
FUTURAGENE PLC 
 
 
FuturaGene to develop enhanced poplar for the Chinese biofuel and biopower 
markets 
 
 
9 September 2009.  Rehovoth, Israel. FuturaGene PLC, ("FuturaGene" or "the 
Group", AIM: FGN),  a leader in plant genetic research and development for 
global forestry, biofuel and agricultural markets, has entered into an Agreement 
with the Chinese Academy of Forestry ("CAF") to develop new enhanced poplar with 
increased yield, processability and abiotic stress characteristics for the 
Chinese domestic market. 
 
 
Futuragene will provide proprietary genes and technical assistance to Professor 
Liwang Qi, Chief Expert on Silva Genetics at CAF in Beijing. The programme aims 
at improving yield, drought and salt tolerance of short-rotation poplar for the 
biofuel and biomass markets. 
 
 
Woodchip from poplar produced in sustainable, renewable plantations provides a 
carbon-neutral fuel source for co-firing coal-burning power stations, 
significantly reducing environmental damage. Poplar is also being developed for 
the production of second generation cellulose-to-ethanol biofuel. The rapid 
growth rate of poplar makes this species an ideal candidate for renewable 
biomass for energy production reducing the need to use food crops as a raw 
material for liquid fuel production. 
 
 
In addition to development work, field trials and regulatory authorisation will 
be carried out by CAF. Both parties will have joint rights for commercialisation 
of varieties produced under the Agreement in the Chinese domestic market. 
 
 
This Agreement is the second collaboration between FuturaGene and CAF. The first 
agreement was signed in 2007 and aimed at improving yield, processability and 
disease resistance of eucalyptus trees. 
 
 
Dr. Stanley Hirsch, Group Chief Executive of FuturaGene commented: 
 
 
"We are delighted to be extending our relationship with CAF, following the 
productive start to our initial eucalyptus-focused collaboration agreement. This 
agreement on poplar is strategically important to our global initiatives in the 
development of this crop for biopower and second generation biofuel production. 
 
 
"Poplar is widely used in China as a structural wood, for fibre and to reverse 
desertification.   There is increasing interest in utilising poplar as a carbon 
neutral biomass for renewable energy. As China is currently one of the largest 
users of coal, the introduction of poplar as an energy source for 
combustion, potentially has a substantial global environmental benefit. 
 
 
"Professor Qi has been a significant contributor to poplar research in China and 
we are sure that this new partnership will bring mutual benefit to both 
parties." 
 
 
Professor Liwang Qi added 
 
 
"We are confident that Futuragene's technologies can make a significant 
contribution to the improvement of poplar varieties in China and are pleased to 
have this opportunity to work closely with them." 
 
 
Contact: 
 
 
+-------------------------------------+------------------------------+ 
| FuturaGene Plc                      |                              | 
+-------------------------------------+------------------------------+ 
| Mark Pritchard, Chairman            |         +44 (0) 7802 827 846 | 
+-------------------------------------+------------------------------+ 
| Dr. Stanley Hirsch, Group Chief     |             +972 544 56 2724 | 
| Executive                           |                              | 
+-------------------------------------+------------------------------+ 
|                                     |                              | 
+-------------------------------------+------------------------------+ 
| Evolution Securities                |                              | 
+-------------------------------------+------------------------------+ 
| Neil Elliot                         |         +44 (0) 20 7071 4300 | 
+-------------------------------------+------------------------------+ 
|                                     |                              | 
+-------------------------------------+------------------------------+ 
| College Hill                        |          +44 (0)20 7457 2020 | 
+-------------------------------------+------------------------------+ 
| Adrian Duffield/Rozi Morris         |                              | 
+-------------------------------------+------------------------------+ 
 
 
Note to Editors: 
 
 
Information on Poplar 
Poplars are one of the most commonly planted species of tree in China. Poplar 
wood is used for plywood, veneer and structural timber. As this species is fast 
growing, it is finding increasing use in reafforestation of deserts. Poplar 
plantations extended over 4.3 million hectares in 2007 (FAO). According to 
GMO-Safety (a biosafety research portal run on behalf of the German Federal 
Ministry of Education and Research), China intends to reforest an area of 
approximately 17 million hectares by the year 2012. In addition, adoption of 
woodchip co-firing programs for coal fired power stations in China could 
significantly add to the demand for poplar wood. 
 
 
About FuturaGene PLCwww.futuragene.com. 
FGN is a leading agricultural biotechnology company focused on research, 
development and commercialization of technologies that provide solutions for 
agriculture in a changing planet. FGN's technologies play key roles in 
substantially improving and protecting yields, enhancing processability and 
environmental sustainability in the forestry, biofuels, biopower and 
agricultural sectors. 
 
 
In addition to its in-house discovery programme, FuturaGene licenses 
intellectual property from leading universities in its strategic fields of 
interest and develops these technologies in its strategic crops. FGN has 
established numerous commercial and academic partnerships and out licenses to 
bring its technologies to market. FGN's most advanced technologies for yield 
improvement in sustainable industrial forestry have successfully completed field 
trials and are in regulatory phases prior to commercial deployment. 
 
 
About the Chinese Academy of Forestry 
The Chinese Academy of Forestry (CAF) was founded in 1958 based on the former 
Central Research Institute of Forestry established in 1953. Its present 
president is Chen Tong'ai. The academy now has over 4,400 staff, including 
researchers, engineers, and technicians, involved in more than 150 disciplines 
and is authorized advanced academic degrees in a number of fields. Having 
research offices and satellite institutions in a number of sites around China as 
well as more than 60,000 hectares of experimental lands, CAF is the mainstream 
of tree development in China 
 
This information is provided by RNS 
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange 
   END 
 
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