Kultevat, KeyGene partner on Russian dandelion rubber project

ERJ staff report (RPN)

By Mike McNulty, Rubber & Plastics News

Carlsbad, California – Kultevat LLC has entered into a collaboration pact with KeyGene N.V., a Netherlands biotech company, for the production of rubber from the Russian dandelion.

Under the agreement, the firms will invest in the development and commercial introduction of new dandelion varieties that are enriched for latex in their roots and are suitable for large scale production of natural rubber.

KeyGene will be responsible for the development of new varieties of dandelions using state-of-the-art molecular breeding techniques, while Kultevat will develop appropriate production practices and large scale latex extraction and rubber production in North America, Kultevat said.

KeyGene will use the newly developed varieties and its rubber production technologies for production of rubber in other locations across the globe.

"We have been working (on the) Russian dandelion since 2008," said Dan Swiger, the founder of Carlsbad-based Kultevat. "With our extensive network in agriculture, greenhouse, seed propagation and commercial rubber sales, KeyGene is an ideal global partner for Kultevat because they are the leaders in plant breeding, research, partnerships and molecular genetics. This will improve on our ability to rapidly scale and commercialise."

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Article from Rubber & Plastics News