BASF and Academia Sinica Cooperate on Gene Discovery

BASF Plant Science and Academia Sinica, a leading research institute in Taiwan, are teaming up to develop high yielding and stress tolerant crops. The Germany-based company and the institute signed a cooperation agreement focusing on the discovery of genes that control abiotic stress resistance and beneficial agronomic traits in rice and corn. Within the scope of the cooperation, Academia Sinica will continue their work on the detailed functional analysis of genes in rice. BASF, on the other hand will evaluate genetically modified plants harboring the identified genes. The duration of the cooperation has initially been set for two years.

“Essential genes identified during the cooperation could be used to improve yield in rice and other cereal crops such as wheat, corn, and grass species, which are very much needed in order to ensure food and bioenergy security for the rapidly growing world population,” said Dr. Su-May Yu of the Institute of Molecular Biology at Academia Sinica. This is the third biotech agreement by BASF Plant Science in Asia within eight months.

View the press release at http://www.corporate.basf.com/en/presse/mitteilungen/pm.htm?pmid=3110&id=oL*aFCLx_bcp-GZ