Devgen and Sang Hyang Seri announce hybrid rice production
cooperation in Indonesia.
Ghent - Jakarta, July 22, 2009. Devgen (EURONEXT, Brussels: DEVG)
and Sang Hyang Seri, today announced a further strengthening of their
relationship through the creation of a Hybrid Rice Strategic Business
Unit for hybrid rice seed production.
The business unit is a contractual joint venture that will be jointly
managed. Sang Hyang Seri (SHS), the government owned seed company
will provide local expertise, land and infrastructure. Today SHS
produces and supplies ~100,000 ton of certified rice seed (close to
one third of the country's rice seed requirements). Devgen will
provide hybrid rice production technology. Produced seed will be
distributed by SHS and Devgen within Indonesia.
The companies already have ongoing cooperations in R&D and
distribution of hybrid rice in Indonesia. Under these agreements the
companies have been testing Devgen's hybrid rice pipeline across
Indonesia. Indonesia is South East Asia's largest rice growing
country with approx. 12 million ha under rice cultivation of which
only a few percent is hybrid today.
"Hybrid rice are a key tool to increase the rice farmer's
productivity in Indonesia but to be successful requires products
suited to the country's agro-climatological conditions and farmer's
needs." says Dr. Thierry Bogaert, Devgen's CEO. "Devgen's hybrid rice
pipeline has over 15 years of breeding history in S.E. Asia and is
validated with respect of local needs".
"We are pleased to work with Devgen, a leader in rice breeding and
hybrid seed technology" says Mr. Eddy Budiono, the President Director
of Sang Hyang Seri "With this cooperation we will, as per government
guidance, provide the Indonesian farmer with the best, locally
produced, hybrid rice to increase yield and productivity in the
country. The result will be significantly realized in the next few
years."
About SHS
Pt Sang Hyang Seri is a government wholly owned company dealing with
seed, fertilizer and agrochemicals with offices and farms across
Indonesia.
About Devgen
Devgen's mission is to enable farmers to sustainably grow more food
on less land, with less water, agrochemicals and labour.
Devgen uses advanced biotechnology and molecular breeding technology
to make high yielding seeds and crop protection solutions with a
superior environmental profile.
Devgen brings this technology to the market in the world's major food
and feed crops through two complementary strategies:
- Licensing Devgen technology for use in corn, cotton and soy and
selected other crops in exchange for R&D funding, and milestone and
royalty payments.
- Producing and selling its premium hybrid seeds in major field crops
such as rice, sunflower, sorghum, and pearl millet, in the Indian
subcontinent and S.E. Asia.
In its Crop Protection unit, Devgen develops a novel nematicide, an
agro-chemical product that protects crops from damage by parasitic
nematodes.
Incorporated in 1997, Devgen has offices in Ghent (Belgium),
Singapore, Hyderabad (India) and Delaware (US) and employs more than
200 people.
For more information please contact:
Thierry Bogaert, CEO Wim
Goemaere, CFO
Tel. +32 9 324.24.24 Tel. +32
9324.24.24
Thierry.Bogaert@devgen.com Wim.Goemaere@devgen.com
or visit: www.devgen.com
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