FuturaGene Secures Chinese Patent for Drought Tolerant Gene

By Jim.Robinson|December 22, 2009

FuturaGene PLC, a leader in plant genetic research and development for global forestry, biofuel and agricultural markets, has been granted a patent by the Chinese patent office entitled, “Method for increasing stress tolerance in plants.” The patent covers FuturaGene’s drought-tolerance gene for use in both food and non-food crops.

On December 3, 2009, FuturaGene licensed drought-tolerance technology to Bayer CropScience for utilization in cotton worldwide. The licensed technology is covered by this newly issued patent in China.

Water availability is one of the principal environmental limiters of crop yield around the world, hampering cultivation of crops on more than 40% of the earth’s land surface and posing a significant threat to global agricultural production and food supply.

Northern China was recently hit by its worst drought in 50 years, affecting half of the winter wheat cropping area and leaving millions of people and livestock unable to access sufficient water. Following this event, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations devised a plan with the Chinese authorities for short- and medium-term intervention for drought-impact mitigation over the next three years.