在通过公司新闻稿发布的公告中，总部位于以色列特拉维夫的 Makhteshim-Agan（麦)和美国加利福尼亚州圣地亚哥的性状开发公司Cibus Global(国际巴士) have signed Strategic Development Alliance wherein MAI will invest up to US$37 million over five years, based on certain milestones, in a Joint Venture (JV) with CIBUS to develop proprietary crop traits in five major crops with a European focus. A separate Strategic Equity Alliance allows MAI to gradually acquire up to 50.1% of CIBUS’ equity.
根据战略发展联盟的条款，CIBUS 将开发专有特性，包括性能增强特性以及对 MAI 销售的一系列作物保护产品的作物保护产品耐受性。这些性状将在高性能种子中商业化
与领先的种子公司合作，将使 MAI 参与获取基于性状的作物保护的价值。合资企业将使用专有的快速特征开发系统（实时数据表) technology developed by CIBUS, which enables much faster and efficient trait development than traditional plant breeding techniques, CIBUS says. In addition to yielding significant economic advantages to farmers growing these important crops, MAI and CIBUS believe that the newly developed traits will enable more efficient and environmentally responsible usage of agricultural crop inputs over the crop production cycle.
Avraham Bigger, Chairman and CEO of MAI, said that, “We are very pleased to announce our well thought-through entry into the trait and seed business areas, which will allow us to participate in capturing the value of these important fields and enhance our innovative offering and market positioning. The partnership with CIBUS, a leading research and development firm with unique and innovative technologies, provides the opportunity for MAI to invest in the Company and ultimately become a greater than 50% shareholder in this exciting firm, and has the potential of forming a new business activity for MAI.”
“We are very pleased to be partnering with MAI, a very successful and forward-looking global peer from the crop protection sector, to bring the first benefits of this unique trait-development capability to farmers worldwide,” said Stephen Evans-Freke, Chairman of CIBUS.