Aventis CropScience and AVEBE Agree on Joint Venture for Novel Starch Potatoes

15-Nov-2001

Aventis CropScience, one of the leading crop protection and crop production companies, and AVEBE b.a., the world market leader in potato starch specialities, have agreed to start a Joint Venture (JV) to conduct common research and development projects. The JV will focus on the opportunities of new starch potato varieties with new or improved starch properties by using modern biotechnology. The name of the Joint Venture is Solavista GmbH. It will be located in Potsdam, Germany.

Aventis CropScience has an extensive technology base and experience in developing tailor-made plants with the help of bio sciences. AVEBE b.a. combines excellent breeding and process know how with world-wide product and market expertise resulting in a wide range of starch specialities. Both companies strongly believe in the long-term benefits of modern biotechnology in their fields of operation.

The co-operation of the two companies is seen as a long term commitment focused on: new ranges of highly functional starch specialities, increased use of renewable raw materials as a base for these new or improved speciality products, a contribution to economically and/or ecologically-improved production processes by avoiding or reducing the need for chemical modification processes and energy. The jointly developed products are planned to reach the market before the end of this decade.

"For Aventis CropScience this JV will be the next important step on the way to commercialising its know-how and intellectual property in plant bio science," said Julien Verley, CEO of Aventis CropScience BioScience business. “This JV also perfectly illustrates the use of biotechnology into industrial downstream applications and opens many perspectives of development”, he added.

Pieter Krijne, Chairman of the Executive Board of AVEBE, explained: “The use of modern biotechnology in general and this Joint Venture in particular offer new possibilities for the development, production and sales of commercially interesting products as well as preparing for a productive, sustainable and high quality agriculture. Furthermore it makes it absolutely clear that AVEBE considers the use of modern biotechnology as a matter of strategic importance. This will be done in a responsible way for society and environment.”

https://www.chemeurope.com/en/news/5854/aventis-cropscience-and-avebe-agree-on-joint-venture-for-novel-starch-potatoes.html