Stony Brook, N.Y.-based Applied DNA Sciences Inc. (APDN) has signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). APDN reports the CRADA will enhance its fiberTyping® identification method for cotton species and cultivars allowing the company to genetically verify multiple types of individual cotton cultivars, which in turn will protect quality, traceability and economic interests. Under the agreement, APDN has the option to negotiate an exclusive license for any inventions created jointly or by the USDA.
“Our collaboration with the USDA will accelerate our ability to identify key cultivars for specific cotton-growing regions based on our patented technology,” said Dr. Mike Hogan, vice president, Life Sciences, APDN. “We believe the synergy of our expertise, together with the expertise of the cotton genomics experts at USDA, will result in a library of key cotton genome targets for commercial use. Consequently, we will be able to identify the fibers that are most desirable, and exclude fibers that are harvested from regions known to use forced or underage labor.”
January/February 2016
