Plant cell cycle genes
Synopsis
My research group filed a patent on the application of plant
cell cycle genes in plant engineering with a view to improve plant
growth and development as early as 1990. The patent application
will provide broad coverage on the use of several key classes
of cell cycle genes the use of which has been shown to affect
plant growth, plant transformation, tolerance to stress, and development.
The patent has been granted in Australia. A first set of claims
was granted in the USA, the patent is under examination in other
territories (Europe, Japan, Canada). On the basis of this patent
application I entered into a research collaboration with Pioneer
Hi-Bred to improve transformation in maize.
From 1998 until 2006, my group entered into a broad alliance
with CropDesign
NV, a new agricultural biotechnology company based in
Belgium. CropDesign is now the holder of this patent application
and supports further research in my laboratory, which in
the meantime has led to the filing of two further patent
applications on the use of cell cycle genes in plants. In
addition, through its in-house research and a network of
alliances with other leading cell cycle research teams CropDesign
and its academic allies have built and continue to expand
on a very strong IP platform relating to applications of
cell cycle based technology in crops.
Among the patented applications of cell cycle technology are
several areas that are of crucial importance to grain crops, e.g.
tolerance to stress and disease, control of grain size and grain
yield.
By collaboration with my group at ANU and with CropDesign, there
is an opportunity to support further strategic work on the control
of the cell cycle and the development of genetic strategies to
improve crop plants. The company has indicated it is prepared
to discuss appropriate arrangements with regard to intellectual
property, which would secure access to state of the art technology
for Australian agriculture.
Value
The initial ANU patent application providing broad coverage on
the use of cell cycle genes in plants is extremely valuable in
view of the broad range of application including increased yield,
increased stress tolerance, disease resistance, quality traits
which it covers. In addition other patent applications which are
part of the CropDesign platform cover specific genes and /or specific
uses.
The value of traits such as increased yield should be calculated
as a percent of the value of the crop itself and new technology
protection mechanisms allow us to capture a relevant part of the
value added. This indicates that the value of the technology goes
beyond the framework of the tradition seed business (a 15 Billion
US$ market globally) and allows value creation and recovery in
the much larger market for agricultural end-products. Access to
this state of the art technology for Australian agriculture is
essential in order to maintain its competitive position in the
world market.
Contacts
john@rsbs.anu.edu.au
BioTech RSBS
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