Tomen: Arysta LifeScience Corp. Launches Livestock Gene Analysis Business Assists farmers to maximize milking potential of cows
2001-10-23
Tomen Corporation announced today that Arysta LifeScience Corp., Tomen and Nichimen Corp.'s new subsidiary focusing on the life science business field, launched a new livestock gene analysis business.
By the end of 2001 Arysta LifeScience Corp. will launch a business in Europe to measure the milking ability of cows by using the Pit-1 gene analysis method, filing patents in EU/USA/Japan. Through Nutri-Tomen S.A., Arysta's research and sales subsidiary of veterinary medicines and feed additives in France, Arysta plans to offer this service to major users in livestock industries such as livestock gene companies, artificialinsemination centers and breeding companies.
In April 2001, Arysta bought the filing patent called "Pit-1 gene polymorphism and trait selection in Animal" from the Animal and Microbial Biology Unit of Gembloux Agriculture University in Gembloux, Belgium.
Arysta also plans to invest in a laboratory venture company, Progenus S.A., to use the patent for the gene analysis business, established at the Gembloux Agriculture University by Professor R. Renaville and Professor D. Portetelle. The venture companyhas received a research grant on this project from the government of Belgium.
Since the patent was filed, new capabilities have been found that it would measure the milking ability of cows by analyzing the DNA from cow hairs extracted from specimens. A special tape used to sample cow hair will be provided to stockbreeders who will then send them to the Progenus S.A. laboratory. Thegene analysis result will be provided to the stockbreeders.
This analysis is widely useful in the livestock business fields including cow insemination judgment and selection of seed bulls. Nutri-Tomen will handle the service's promotion and sales in the European market. Arysta will manage its worldwide sales and has already received inquiries for this service from livestock spermsupply companies outside Europe.
Arysta LifeScience and Progenus S.A. will offer a wide range of advanced gene information tools to analyze genes from sheep,pigs and other livestock including companion animals.
Mr. Joji Suzuki, Senior General Manager of Life Science Division, Arysta LifeScience Corp. said, "This new gene analysis activities have the potential to greatly enhance the ability of farmers to maximize the milking potential of their livestock," and he continued, "Arysta is committed to bringing to market products and technologies that will contribute to the veterinary medicine fields in the world."
About Arysta LifeScience Corp.
Arysta LifeScience Corp., which started its operation in April 2001, integrated all pharmaceutical, veterinary medicine and agrochemical activities of the Tomen Group and the Nichimen Group. A total of 58 group companies are included in the company. It is owned by the Tomen Group (57%,) Nichimen (40%,) Toyota Tsusho (2%) and others (1%).
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