Ceres, Inc. and USDA Agricultural Research Service sign Cooperative Research and Development Agreement
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – February 01, 2006 – On February 1, 2006, Ceres, Inc. and the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) at the United States Department of Agriculture signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) for improving switchgrass genetics through biotechnology.
The United States currently imports 55% of its petroleum, which accounts for 45% of the total trade deficit. With the need to reduce our dependence on petroleum imports growing, increased emphasis has been placed on the identification of renewable energy sources as a way to stimulate the economy, increase energy security, improve air quality and decrease the quantity of CO2 released into the atmosphere. Of particular note in these potential renewable energy sources is the use of biomass in the form of energy crops.
Switchgrass has many useful agronomic traits as an energy crop and environmental benefits associated with its cultivation include high yield, low cost, low pesticide use and perennial growth habits. With a net energy gain relative to corn exceeding a factor of 15 and a growth range stretching from the Gulf States and Central America to Canada, switchgrass has the potential to be the energy crop of choice for a wide range of environments.
Current efforts to improve switchgrass performance focus on accelerating the breeding process to increase biomass yield to provide abundant supplies of biomass for energy production. To this end, ARS and Ceres will combine their resources and skill sets to establish a program focused on producing new and improved switchgrass varieties and populations through the use of molecular marker breeding and genetic engineering.
Located in Thousand Oaks, CA, Ceres utilizes a high throughput trait identification program as well a number of integrated genomics technology platforms to identify key molecular traits for improving crop performance and reducing cost inputs. Located in Albany, CA, the Biotechnological Enhancement of Energy Crops Project at ARS is working to develop an integrated genomics platform evaluating lignin biosynthesis, sterility and cell wall composition in Switchgrass and Brachypodium.
About Ceres
Ceres, Inc., headquartered in Thousand Oaks, CA, is a privately-held plant biotechnology company utilizing cutting-edge genomics technologies to deliver sustainable solutions in energy production, agriculture, human health and nutrition. Ceres utilizes its proprietary genomics technologies including full-length cDNA sequencing, targeted gene activation, high-throughput screening platforms, and plant breeding with trait-linked marker-assisted breeding, to identify and deploy genes and traits required for the production of elite plant varieties and hybrids. Ceres is developing energy crops such as switchgrass, miscanthus and poplar for cellulosic ethanol as well as leveraging its technologies into established multi-billion dollar markets through strategic partnerships. Since 2002, Ceres has been deploying its traits and technologies in certain agricultural crops.
# # #