Agricultural Gene Technology Licensed to Dow Chemical

(USDA)

The John Innes Centre (JIC), a plant biology research institute in Norwich, U.K., announced today an exclusive licensing agreement with Dow AgroSciences, a subsidiary of Dow Chemical Company, for technology that enhances the root systems of plants.

The technology was developed at JIC by Dr. Liam Dolan and his colleagues. JIC says the team cloned and characterized genes involved in the anchorage, water use, and nutrient uptake in plants. The genes are highly conserved among land plants and the technology has already been shown to be effective in enhancing root systems in genetically engineered plants of major crops worldwide.

JIC is funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. Plant Bioscience Limited, JIC’s technology management company, handled the licensing arrangements.