Major Opportunity for Genome-Based Product Discovery
The multibillion-dollar agrochemical industry is undergoing a transition to genome-based product discovery that is parallel to that of the worldwide pharmaceutical industry. Sequencing of the genomes of the major commercial crops is in progress.

Similar to trends in pharmaceutical research, the identification of thousands of plant genes is creating demand for technologies that can help determine gene function, and regulate those genes through improved transgenic plants.

Increased Yields, Lowered Costs
Sangamo scientists and collaborators have shown that engineered ZFP TFs can also be used to regulate genes in plants and that engineered ZFNs can be used to edit plant genomes efficiently and specifically. These abilities could lead to the breeding of new plants that may increase crop yields, lower production costs, are more resistant to herbicides, pesticides and plant pathogens, and permit the development of branded agricultural products with unique nutritional and processing characteristics.

In June 2008, we entered into a commercial license agreement with Dow AgroSciences, Inc. in the area of plant agriculture. Dow AgroSciences is not only developing new products but plans to sublicense the ZFP technology to others under the trademark ExZact Precision Technology.