Biotech Updates

Syngenta Signs Pact to Develop Sugarcanes with Increased Sugar Content

December 18, 2009

Syngenta and Australia-based CSR Sugar announced that they have signed an agreement to develop high-sugar-content technology in cane. Syngenta has acquired exclusive global rights, Australia excluded, to CSR Sugar's SugarBooster, a technology that uses genetic modification to introduce an enzyme into a plant to help increase sugar content. The license agreement includes milestone payments and royalties on product sales to CSR Sugar. Additional terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"While commercial release is not expected for at least several years, this agreement with Syngenta will accelerate the potential development of the new high-yielding varieties," said Ian Glasson, CSR Sugar CEO.

The press release is available at http://www.syngenta.com/en/index.html