Final Brazilian Field Trial for Yield Enhanced Eucalyptus Plantations

FuturaGene, enhancement of yield and sustainability of woody crops for plantation forestry, biopower and biofuel markets, has received approval from the Brazilian National Technical Commission on Biosafety (CTNBio) to initiate its fourth regulatory field trial for yield enhanced eucalyptus plantations in Brazil. The trial is designed to evaluate plantation agronomic properties and biosafety of a specific genetically modified event.

FuturaGene has planted three additional regulatory trials over the last eight months. Biosafety data from trials in geographic areas representative of eucalyptus plantations in Brazil are required for inclusion in a regulatory dossier to the CTNBio to obtain market approval for modified organisms in Brazil.

FuturaGene plans to plant the trial in the coming two weeks. The initiation of this trial denotes an important milestone in the regulatory process for FuturaGene. The planting of the trial will be the culmination of a series of regulated selection, evaluation and biosafety trials which was initiated in 2006, with the first performance evaluation trial planted in a collaboration between Suzano Pulp and Paper (Suzano) and FuturaGene. This collaboration resulted in the acquisition of FuturaGene by Suzano.

On successful completion of the regulatory trials which have been planted, FuturaGene plans to submit a dossier to the CTNBio, requesting regulatory approval to deploy its yield enhanced eucalyptus.