Work with Canada’s National Research Council aims at improving animal health, meat safety

Indianapolis, IN - February 13, 2004

Dow AgroSciences has entered into a strategic research alliance with Canada's National Research Council Institute for Biological Sciences (NRC-IBS). The alliance is focused on discovering and delivering innovations to improve animal health and the safety of the world's meat supply.

The strategic alliance, which will be in force for at least five years, is a unique government/industry business model that will facilitate the commercialization of innovative research in Canada and improve human and animal health around the world.  

"A key objective of the alliance will be to use innovative technologies to improve food safety while enhancing animal health," said Butch Mercer, global business leader, Animal Health and Nutrition for Dow AgroSciences. "By using plants as factories in a closed system, the alliance intends to produce antibodies to eliminate harmful bacteria in meat, and vaccines that reduce the risk of transferring animal diseases to animals and humans." 

In November 2003, Dow AgroSciences obtained worldwide licensing rights from NRC to develop and market technologies that block production of E. coli O157:H7 bacteria in cattle and Campylobacter jejuni in poultry. The new alliance involves cooperation on a broader scale, combining the research expertise of NRC along with the plant sciences technologies and marketing capabilities of Dow AgroSciences.

Dow AgroSciences, among the world's leaders in plant sciences, will combine its ability to produce therapeutic proteins in plants with NRC's expertise in discovering proteins that can be developed into animal health products.

Through this alliance, we have made a substantial financial commitment that reflects our belief that the scientists at the NRC Institute for Biological Sciences are among the world's leading researchers," said Rick Smith, president, Dow AgroSciences Canada. "We believe this groundbreaking government/industry alliance will result in great improvements for animals, livestock producers and consumer safety."

For NRC, the alliance with a leading agribusiness company offers an opportunity to convert meaningful discoveries into products to benefit society.  Specific terms of the agreement are not being released.

"Research and discovery are only part of technological advancement," said Dr. Arthur Carty, NRC president. "There must also be a way to turn discoveries into real products and get those products to the public. NRC's alliance with Dow AgroSciences is a great example of the integration of public and private strengths to create new opportunities with potential health benefits for Canadians and the international community."

Recognized globally for research and innovation, Canada's National Research Council (NRC) is a leader in the development of an innovative, knowledge-based economy for Canada through science and technology.  The NRC Institute for Biological Sciences is focused on the application of neuro- and glycosciences to reduce the impact of age-related and infectious diseases. 

Dow AgroSciences LLC, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, is a global leader in providing pest management and biotechnology products that improve the quality and quantity of the earth's food supply and contribute to the health and quality of life of the world's growing population. Dow AgroSciences has approximately 5700 people in over 50 countries dedicated to its business, and has worldwide sales of US $3 billion. Dow AgroSciences is a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company. For more information about Dow AgroSciences, visit www.dowagro.com.

For Editorial Information:

Nathalie Gour
Media Relations
National Research Council of Canada
(613) 990-6091
media@nrc.gc.ca

Robyn Heine
Corporate Communications
Dow AgroSciences LLC
(317) 337-4807
rheine@dow.com