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Agricultural
biotechnology encompasses a set of technologies —
genomic science, functional genomics, bioinformatics
and genetic engineering technology — that improve
yields and enable new agricultural products when applied
to crop plants and livestock.
Examples include
the creation of new animal breeds or crop varieties
with improved characteristics, enhanced nutritional
values, faster growth and disease resistance.
Advances in
these technologies also enable expansion of agriculture
into alternative, non-food, non-fiber products, including
pharmaceuticals, chemicals, biomaterials and enzymes.
Although the
agricultural commodities and alternative product markets
have very different structures, to a great extent the
same underlying R&D supports them.
The Research Triangle Region is strongly positioned
to capitalize on the growth opportunities in both markets.
The region
has several assets that work synergistically to create
biotechnology applications for food and fiber products:
- North Carolina State University’s research
program in agricultural biotechnology, one of the
nation's largest.
- Strong research programs in statistics, biology,
botany, chemistry, genetics, medicine and engineering
at North Carolina State University, The University
of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Duke University
and others.
- Several programs focused on transferring university
R&D to the large agricultural industry in the
state, as well as NC State’s leadership role
in efforts to facilitate commercialization of agricultural
intellectual property.
- Three of the world’s largest agribusiness
companies: Bayer CropScience, Syngenta Biotechnology
and BASF.
- Entrepreneurial environment and ready access to
investment capital and incubator infrastructure, which
combines to nurture start-ups.
- Large agricultural industry and leadership in poultry
and hog production, providing commercial pathways
for launching improved agricultural commodities.
Research and product divisions of several major pharmaceutical
companies, including GlaxoSmithKline, Wyeth and Biogen
Idec.
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