Santiago, Chile
March 24, 1999
The following press release was issued in Santiago, Chile on March 10th, 1999 for the
Spanish-speaking media.
Translated from Spanish:
"A revolutionary transformation in the field of Chilean forestry genetics is what the
new
multinational company Genfor Inc., which includes the Canadian company Silvagen Inc., the
American company InterLink, and the Chile Foundation, is seeking to achieve. The alliance
intends to become a technological platform in the area of genetic improvement in the
country.
First, services of clonal development through the use of new somatic embryogenesis
technology
will be offered. This service will allow the forestry companies to efficiently
micropropagate their
clonal material, improving productivity of future plantations. In the area of development,
the
company will be devoted to producing transgenic plants resistant to insects and fungi,
with greater wood production, as well as improving the process of pulp and paper
production.
With an anticipated 5 million US dollar investment fund, this ambitious project for
genetic forestry
improvement also expects to produce products and deliver specific services such as clonal
development and consulting in genetic improvement in forestry, genetic engineering for the
transformation of germplasm, and ultimately, delivery of elite genetic material to the
forestry
sector.
According to Eduardo Bitran, Director General of the Chile Foundation, "the idea of
bringing in
these innovative genetic technologies is founded on the creation of new technological
capabilities
in Chile, destined to obtain better quality products through the active participation of
different
institutes at a national level, which, in the long term will lead to improvement in
productivity in the
Chilean forestry sector".
Referring to the amount of the investment, the executive pointed out "that it is
divided between the
necessary human resources for this technological innovation, access to elite clonal
material to be
used at a commercial level, and the long term development of transgenic products. The
creation of efficient clonal programs for Chile will allow the competitiveness of the
national companies to be maintained at a worldwide level".
Moreover, the president of Silvagen Inc., Dr. Ben Sutton, pointed out that "to be
involved in the
improvement of Radiata Pine in Chile represents an important strategic decision for the
company
in the use and development of its technologies for clonal improvement and genetic
engineering.
This project constitutes Silvagen's first business of forestry genetics for the
region".
The Canadian partner and subsidiary of BC Research, Silvagen Inc., has more than 12 years
experience in the development of somatic embryogenesis, which uses powerful tools for
vegetative propagation and technologies associated with the improvement of seedlings for
reforestation. On its part, InterLink Associates Inc. has specialized for more than nine
years in the development and transfer of biotechnologies for the American Industry."
Silvagen's management are very pleased to be able to add the Chilean market to Silvagen's
various overseas product development and marketing arrangements as part of the company's
overall strategy to maximize the value of its core business in genetically improved forest
seedlings.Fundacion Chile news release
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