Innovative Precision Biological Solution Targets Destructive
Fall Armyworm to Help Farmers Globally to Control This Damaging
Pest and Increase Food Production
OXFORD, England, Oct. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Intrexon
Corporation (NYSE: XON), a leader in the engineering and
industrialization of biology to improve the quality of life and
health of the planet, today announced the achievement of a key
milestone in the development of its innovative solution for control
of the agricultural pest fall armyworm (Spodoptera
frugiperda) in collaboration with a leading agricultural
company. Intrexon Crop Protection's targeted,
biologically-based approach utilizing Oxitec's self-limiting insect
technology holds substantial promise to control this major
agricultural pest and prevent widespread crop losses, thereby
benefitting farmers and enhancing food sustainability.
Native to the Americas where it has caused significant damage
for decades, fall armyworm (FAW) invaded Africa in 2016 and has rapidly spread to at
least 28 countries. According to a Centre for Agriculture and
Biosciences International report, FAW has caused an estimated
$13.8 billion in losses of maize,
sorghum, rice and sugarcane in Africa. This extensive cost and economic
impact to these African countries does not take into account the
many additional crops FAW has been known to feed on, as well as
resulting seed loss for subsequent growing seasons.
"Fall armyworm is a growing problem in many areas of the world
and conventional approaches are increasingly insufficient to
address its control," said Sekhar
Boddupalli, Ph.D., Senior Vice President and Head of
Intrexon's Food Sector. "We are pleased by the continued
progress in this program and believe our pioneering solution can
counter increasing resistance of this devastating pest to
conventional chemical insecticides and transgenic crops expressing
insecticidal proteins."
Feeding on the leaves and stems of over 80 different plant
species including many economically important crops, the
trans-Atlantic expansion of FAW and its potential to reach new
continents such as Europe and
Asia represent a significant
threat to global food security. These pests reproduce rapidly, with
each female laying up to 1000 eggs within 2 weeks. FAW also have
the ability to fly up to 100 kilometers on a daily basis when they
reach adulthood.
While genetically modified crops and chemical pesticides have
been employed in the Americas as a means of FAW control, resistance
to both is an increasing concern necessitating the evaluation of
alternative methods. The self-limiting fall armyworm under
development contains a gene passed on by engineered males that
specifically prevents female offspring from reaching adulthood,
thereby reducing wild FAW pest populations and minimizing the risk
of FAW spreading quickly over long distances.
Simon Warner, Ph.D., Chief
Scientific Officer of Oxitec added, "Current crop protection
solutions are facing challenges such as rising resistance in pests
as well as amplified public concerns over residues and
environmental impacts. We are pleased with the progress we have
made in achieving this key milestone for our eco-friendly solution
against the fall armyworm that is devastating to farmers and is
wreaking havoc on agricultural-based economies across the
globe."
Like other targeted approaches, Intrexon's ground-breaking
technology affects only the damaging insect species and avoids the
off-target effects of sprayed pesticides to beneficial insects and
the broader ecosystem. Intrexon Crop Protection's self-limiting
insect platform has already been tested in trials against a number
of major agricultural pests, including the Diamondback moth and the
Mediterranean fruit fly, and has been shown to substantially
suppress pest populations and increase marketable crop yield.
With this achievement, Intrexon received a milestone payment and
its collaboration on the self-limiting fall armyworm continues its
advancement in development.
About Intrexon Corporation
Intrexon Corporation (NYSE: XON) is Powering the Bioindustrial
Revolution with Better DNA™ to create biologically-based products
that improve the quality of life and the health of the
planet. The Company's integrated technology suite provides
its partners across diverse markets with industrial-scale design
and development of complex biological systems delivering
unprecedented control, quality, function, and performance of living
cells. We call our synthetic biology approach Better
DNA®, and we invite you to discover more at www.dna.com
or follow us on Twitter at @Intrexon, on Facebook, and
LinkedIn.
Trademarks
Intrexon, Powering the Bioindustrial
Revolution with Better DNA, and Better DNA are trademarks of
Intrexon and/or its affiliates. Other names may be trademarks of
their respective owners.
Safe Harbor Statement
Some of the statements made in
this press release are forward-looking statements. These
forward-looking statements are based upon our current expectations
and projections about future events and generally relate to our
plans, objectives and expectations for the development of our
business. Although management believes that the plans and
objectives reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking
statements are reasonable, all forward-looking statements involve
risks and uncertainties and actual future results may be materially
different from the plans, objectives and expectations expressed in
this press release.
For more information contact:
Investor
Contact:
Christopher
Basta
Vice President,
Investor Relations
Tel: +1 (561)
410-7052
investors@intrexon.com
Media
Contact:
Sarah Hoey, PhD
Oxitec Press Officer
Tel: +44 (0) 1235 832 393
info@oxitec.com
|
Corporate
Contact:
Marie Rossi,
Ph.D.
Director, Technical
Communications
Tel: +1 (301)
556-9850
publicrelations@intrexon.com
|
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