Genus Plc (“Genus”), a world leader in animal genetic improvement, and Tropic, a pioneering agricultural-biotechnology company, today announce that they are extending and expanding their collaboration for the application of Tropic’s Gene Editing induced Gene Silencing (GEiGS®) technology in porcine and bovine genetics.

Since the collaboration started in June 2020, Tropic has delivered multiple sets of GEiGS® solutions for Genus to evaluate, which is a critical step in the development of resistance traits to several devastating livestock diseases. Experimental validations of the GEiGS® solutions conducted by Genus’ scientists have demonstrated effective silencing of specific target genes.

The extended collaboration will enable Genus and Tropic to explore additional traits that will be based on the GEiGS® platform, to expand animal welfare traits in bovine and porcine species.

Elena Rice, Chief Scientific Officer at Genus stated: “We are excited to continue our collaboration with Tropic Biosciences and expand validation of GEiGS® solutions to address critical diseases in animals”.

Jack Peart, Chief Business Officer at Tropic Biosciences commented: “Our progress with Genus demonstrates the power of the GEiGS® technology in addressing critical diseases in animals, adding to the growing list of animal and plant species where GEiGS® is demonstrating its effectiveness. We are excited to continue the collaboration with the incredible Genus team, and to further harness cutting edge innovation to improve animal welfare and promote sustainable practices in the industry.”

For further information, please contact:

Genus plc 

Dr. Elena Rice
Chief Scientific Officer
Tel: +1 608 846 3721
Email: elena.rice@genusplc.com

Mark Birri
Strategy & Business Development Director
Tel: +44 (0)7469 075 984
Email: mark.birri@genusplc.com

Tropic 

Dr. Jack Peart
Chief Commercial Officer
Tel: +44 (0) 7561 438962
E-mail: jack.peart@tropic.bio  

About Genus Plc

Genus is a world-leading animal genetics company. Genus creates advances to animal breeding and genetic improvement by applying biotechnology and sells added value products for livestock farming and food producers. Its technology is applicable across livestock species and is currently commercialised by Genus in the dairy, beef and pork food production sectors.

Genus's worldwide sales are made in over seventy-five countries under the trademarks 'ABS' (dairy and beef cattle) and 'PIC' (pigs) and comprise semen, embryos and breeding animals with superior genetics. Genus's customers' animals produce offspring with greater production efficiency, and quality, and use these to supply the global dairy and meat supply chains.

The Group's competitive edge has been created from the ownership and control of proprietary lines of breeding animals, the biotechnology used to improve them and its global supply chain, technical service and sales and distribution network. With headquarters in Basingstoke, United Kingdom, Genus companies operate in over twenty-five countries on six continents, with research laboratories located in Madison, Wisconsin, USA.

This announcement is available on the Genus website www.genusplc.com

About Tropic

Tropic is one of the leading agricultural gene-editing companies globally and focuses on the development and commercialization of high-performing varieties of tropical crops, namely coffee, bananas and rice. It employs over 130 industry-leading professionals

For more information, please visit www.tropic.bio

About GEiGS®

GEiGS® (Gene Editing induced Gene Silencing) technology utilizes established genome editing

tools (e.g. CRISPR, TALEN) to make precise and specific changes to only a few nucleotides within non-coding genes of a host organism. These changes redirect RNA interference (RNAi, also Gene Silencing) activity of non-coding genes towards desired target genes, suppressing their activity. Target genes can include the host’s own genes, or gene-families, to finely tune their expression to a new desired level. Further, GEiGS® can be used to activate defense against pathogens and pests (e.g. viruses, insects and fungi) by redirecting RNAi activity towards pathogen and pest genes. GEiGS® does not depend on the introduction of foreign genes into the host genome, and thus the approach will be considered as non-GMO in multiple regions.

For more information, please visit www.geigs.com

USDA Announces Plenary Speakers for 2022 Agricultural Outlook Forum

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today the plenary speakers for the 2022 Agricultural Outlook Forum, themed “New Paths to Sustainability and Productivity Growth,” which will be held virtually Feb. 24–25, 2022. Please click here to learn more about the announcement and Genus’ participation.

Genus Plc (“Genus”), a world leader in animal genetic improvement, and Tropic Biosciences (“Tropic”), the pioneering agricultural-biotechnology company, today announce a collaboration to explore the application of Tropic’s Gene Editing induced Gene Silencing (GEiGS™) technology in porcine and bovine genetics. The collaboration with Tropic is a welcome addition to Genus’s internal discovery initiatives and strategic collaborations.

This new collaboration will enable Genus and Tropic to employ the GEiGS™ platform in Genus’s investigational research programmes, ultimately aimed at accelerating genetic improvement for farmers and tackling animal disease and suffering.

The collaboration will see Genus and Tropic working together to design, investigate and develop new products for a number of applications over the coming years. Tropic’s research team will continue to provide support and regular input in a collaborative effort that highlights the strengths and values of both companies.

Elena Rice, Chief Scientific Officer at Genus stated: “We are excited to work with Tropic Biosciences and explore the application of new technologies to improve the sustainability of protein production.”

Jack Peart, Chief Commercial Officer at Tropic Biosciences commented: “Our collaboration with Genus represents an exciting new partnership with a world leader in animal genetic improvement. We look forward to working with the Genus team to explore the potential of GEiGS™ in addressing critical disease challenges in the livestock space.”

For further information, please contact:

Genus plc 

Dr. Elena Rice
Chief Scientific Officer
Tel: +1 608 846 3721
Email: elena.rice@genusplc.com

Mark Birri
Strategy & Business Development Director
Tel: +44 (0)7469 075 984
Email: mark.birri@genusplc.com

Tropic Biosciences

Jack Peart
Chief Commercial Officer
Tel: +44 (0) 7561 438962
E-mail: jack@tropicbioscience.com 

About Genus Plc

Genus is a world-leading animal genetics company. Genus creates advances to animal breeding and genetic improvement by applying biotechnology and sells added value products for livestock farming and food producers. Its technology is applicable across livestock species and is currently commercialised by Genus in the dairy, beef and pork food production sectors.

Genus's worldwide sales are made in over seventy-five countries under the trademarks 'ABS' (dairy and beef cattle) and 'PIC' (pigs) and comprise semen, embryos and breeding animals with superior genetics. Genus's customers' animals produce offspring with greater production efficiency, and quality, and use these to supply the global dairy and meat supply chains.

The Group's competitive edge has been created from the ownership and control of proprietary lines of breeding animals, the biotechnology used to improve them and its global supply chain, technical service and sales and distribution network.

With headquarters in Basingstoke, United Kingdom, Genus companies operate in over twenty-five countries on six continents, with research laboratories located in Madison, Wisconsin, USA.

This announcement is available on the Genus website www.genusplc.com

About Tropic Biosciences

Tropic Biosciences is a UK-based biotechnology company focused on utilizing advanced plant breeding and gene editing technologies to develop high-performing commercial tropical crops, namely coffee and bananas. It employs over 75 industry-leading professionals and is headquartered at the renowned Norwich Research Park, where it has access to excellent facilities and a highly qualified workforce.

For more information please visit www.tropicbioscience.com

About GEiGS™

GEiGS™ technology utilizes established genome editing tools to make precise and specific changes to only a few nucleotides within non-coding endogenous genomic locations of a host organism. These changes redirect RNA interference (RNAi, also Gene Silencing) activity of non-coding genes towards target genes, including those belonging to pathogens and pests. The approach does not depend on the introduction of foreign genes into the host genome. 

Tropic Biosciences developed GEiGS™ to support its own product development, for example to produce lines of banana that are resistant to Panama disease, a devastating fungal disease that is threatening production globally. Recognising GEiGS™ wider potential beyond tropical crops, Tropic has been working towards making their proprietary technology commercially available to other innovative companies. 

The Breeding Technology and Innovations Can Improve Sustainability and Animal Well-Being video series presented by TBD Media and amplified by CBS News, features Genus as one of several companies highlighted in the series, with Genus’ focus on how a more sustainable food system can start with better breeding. The video explores how genetics and innovative breeding technologies can improve animal welfare, combat disease and reduce the environmental impact of raising cattle. A more sustainable food system starts with more knowledge of animal genetics and acceptance of innovation. We are proud to share this video featuring Chief Scientific Officer Elena Rice, Principle Biosystems Engineer David Appleyard, the Wisconsin-based Ebert Enterprises, @Emily Yeiser Stepp, and our colleagues who share their story as part of the #50GlobalLeaders program.

Gene Editing Could Create Disease Resistant Animals, produced by BBC StoryWorks and presented by the International Council of Biotechnology Associations (ICBA), highlights the innovative biotechnology Genus is developing. Featuring Bill Christianson, PIC’s Chief Operating Officer, the video focuses on our use of gene editing technology to develop pigs resistant to Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus (PRRSv) - one of the leading causes of porcine morbidity.