Origin Agritech Ltd., an agricultural biotechnology trait and seed provider, has announced that the company has entered into a commercial biotechnology trait and corn germplasm license agreement with KWS SAAT SE (KWS), one of the world’s leading plant breeding and seed companies. This agreement facilitates KWS’ entry into China’s corn biotechnology trait and expanded seed market.
Según el acuerdo, Origin combinará características de resistencia a insectos y tolerancia a herbicidas desarrolladas conjuntamente por la Academia China de Ciencias Agrícolas y Origin Agritech en líneas endogámicas de maíz KWS. Se planea desplegar maíz mejorado con biotecnología con la aprobación comercial y regulatoria de China. Las futuras versiones mejoradas por biotecnología de estos productos también estarán disponibles para KWS para servir a los agricultores chinos.
“KWS has been a strong strategic partner in the development of Origin’s new insect resistant and herbicide tolerant traits, and this agreement is a key milestone for our company,” said Bill Niebur, CEO, Origin Agritech. “This collaboration enables Origin to deliver the value of the new traits when integrated into the strong genetics of KWS. We believe that the deployment envisaged by this and previous agreements could provide Origin’s technology greater access to the future biotech corn market, which we estimate could become a $1 billion market opportunity.”
KWS tiene 160 años de historia en fitomejoramiento, una huella en 70 países y una sólida reputación en China.
“We are happy about the opportunity to combine Origin’s traits with KWS genetics to develop highly performing insect resistant and herbicide tolerant seed varieties which would be of high value for the Chinese farmer,” said Gyula Szelle, head of East-SE Asia Corn and Oilcrops at KWS. “It will continue to be our ambition to offer our high-quality corn seed to the Chinese market through our affiliates and licensees there and with regard to future policies.”
En consonancia con los objetivos del Ministerio de Agricultura de China, Origin seguirá apoyando el avance de la biotecnología agrícola. El reciente decimotercer Plan Quinquenal publicado por el gobierno chino impulsa el desarrollo acelerado de cultivos biotecnológicos, enfatizando el control de insectos para el maíz y la tolerancia a herbicidas para la soja.
“We are committed to modernizing China’s agriculture system and improving the country’s food security,” Niebur said. “Our partnership and commercial agreement with KWS will advance Origin’s mission of providing agricultural solutions for today’s growing world through being the preferred partner for and from China in biotechnology.”