USDA Signs Agreement for Enhanced Cotton Genotyping

USDA has signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. (APDN), to provide proprietary identification methods to identify cotton species and cultivars.

APDN provides DNA-based supply chain, anti-counterfeiting and anti-theft technology, product genotyping and product authentication solutions.

Advertisement

Under the terms of the agreement, APDN’s enhanced identification program – trademarked as fiberTyping – will genetically verify multiple types of individual cotton cultivars, and assist the cotton industry in protecting quality, traceability and economic investments.

For example, enhanced fiberTyping will be able to differentiate cotton based on country of origin and could ensure that cotton from countries known to use child labor would not be incorporated into tested products.

APDN has been granted an option to negotiate an exclusive license for any inventions made by USDA or jointly made by APDN and USDA.

Top Articles
Cotton Companion: Adjusting to New EPA Adjustments

“Our collaboration with the USDA will accelerate our ability to identify key cultivars for specific cotton growing regions based on our patented technology,” said Dr. Mike Hogan, VP of Life Sciences at Applied DNA Sciences. “We believe the synergy of our expertise, together with the expertise of the cotton genomics experts at USDA, will result in a library of key cotton genome targets for commercial use.

“Consequently, we will be able to identify the fibers that are most desirable, and exclude fibers that are harvested from regions known to use forced or underage labor.”

Already proven in commercial use, APDN’s current fiberTyping methods are used to analyze cotton products and confirm, with precision, the presence of Gossypium barbadense DNA (or Pima Extra Long Staple) and/or Gossypium hirsutum DNA (or Upland).

APDN utilizes its expertise in molecular sciences for the development and manufacture of source-verification testing and security taggants for commercial and governmental implementations. Over the last 12 months, APDN has provided DNA for forensic-grade tagging, authentication and tracking for 100 million pounds of cotton now flowing through the supply chain onto store shelves.

 

Source – Applied DNA Sciences

 

0