Phytodyne, Inc. and BASF Plant Science GmbH announced today the formation of a multi-year research collaboration focused on the development of a new soybean transformation system that will accelerate commercialization of valuable soybean traits. Financial terms of the collaboration are not disclosed.

BASF Plant Science will support research and development on RetroGenetm, a novel plant transformation system, first discovered and developed by Phytodyne. RetroGene will be effective in whole plants and will not require costly tissue culture and regeneration of plants from cells. Phytodyne’s system will provide a more cost-effective means of plant transformation that could be used on a wide range of crops.

“Phytodyne’s collaboration with BASF Plant Science will leverage each company’s unique technology and expertise,” said Jon Leafstedt, Phytodyne president. “BASF Plant Science has a strong research program to develop valuable soybean traits and Phytodyne has the technology to put those traits into soybean plants more effectively than traditional transformation methods,” continued Mr. Leafstedt. “The collaboration with BASF Plant Science underscores the progress Phytodyne has made in developing our proprietary genome modification technologies.”

Dr. Jürgen Logemann, Vice President Technology Management of BASF Plant Science said, “Our capabilities to develop important seed traits, coupled with Phytodyne’s technology for soybean transformation, will provide BASF Plant Science a significant competitive advantage in creating commercially valuable soybean varieties.”

Phytodyne Inc. is a privately held company providing novel genome modification technologies for improvement of plants. The speed, accuracy, and flexibility of these technologies, along with Phytodyne’s intellectual property positions, will enable faster market access for companies developing new plant traits. Phytodyne provides contract research services for seed companies and plant biotechnology firms. The Company’s technologies can also be licensed to companies preferring to conduct in-house genome modification.

All BASF activities involving plant biotechnology are incorporated in BASF Plant Science. BASF Plant Science coordinates an international research and technology platform with seven sites in four countries in Europe and North America. Through use of plant biotechnology BASF Plant Science seeks to develop crops that provide a healthier diet through improved constituents as well as plants with improved cultivation properties for example improved tolerance to drought.