Performance Plants Inc. attracts global attention.Although you wouldn't would·n't Contraction of would not. wouldn't would not wouldn't would know it this season, drought drought, abnormally long period of insufficient rainfall. Drought cannot be defined in terms of inches of rainfall or number of days without rain, since it is determined by such variable factors as the distribution in time and area of precipitation during and before is one of the largest hazards facing farmers in Saskatchewan. But ground-breaking research is being conducted to ensure that farmers no longer have to worry about the devastation drought causes on their crops. The company conducting the research is Performance Plants Inc. Incorporated in 1995. Performance Plants has been a pioneer in the field of plant genomics, specifically transgenic trans·ge·nic adj. 1. Of, relating to, or being an organism whose genome has been altered by the transfer of a gene or genes from another species or breed: transgenic mice. 2. crops or crops that have been genetically enhanced. The popularity of transgenic crops has grown rapidly over the past decade. Today there are more than 167 million acres of transgenic crops grown worldwide. Performance Plants isolates genes with desirable traits and field tests their performance in crops such as canola canola see brassicanapus. , corn and soybeans. The company's lead technology significantly improves crop drought tolerance Drought tolerance refers to the degree to which a plant is adapted to arid or drought conditions. Desiccation tolerance is an extreme degree of drought tolerance.[1] Plants naturally adapted to dry conditions are called xerophytes. and productivity by enhancing the basic plant water conservation mechanism. Two years of irrigated canola field trials have provided very positive results with drought-tolerant plants out-yielding controls by 25 per cent and maintaining optimal yields with half irrigation irrigation, in agriculture, artificial watering of the land. Although used chiefly in regions with annual rainfall of less than 20 in. (51 cm), it is also used in wetter areas to grow certain crops, e.g., rice. . In 2005, the company will run similar field trials with corn in the U.S. Midwest. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It takes approximately seven to 10 years to bring research such as this to market so that it can benefit the average producer, and Performance Plants is almost halfway through this process with its initial technologies. Major players in world agriculture have taken notice of the company's success and have formed partnerships to develop and commercialize products with Performance Plants. These partners include global seed industry leaders like Pioneer Hi-Bred Pioneer Hi-Bred is one of the largest U.S. companies which produces hybrid seeds for agriculture. History In 1926, farm journal editor and future U.S. Vice President Henry A. Wallace, along with a group of Des Moines, Iowa businessmen, started the "Hi-Bred Corn Company". , a DuPont company, and Stine Seeds. Saskatchewan investors are supporting Performance Plants too, through the province's largest Labour Sponsored Investment Fund, Golden Opportunities, that has invested almost $1.5 million into the company and recently participated in a round of financing that will help the company move further toward commercialization of its research. Performance Plants' President and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. David Dennis sums up his company's competitive advantage "As a small research company, we are able to compete with larger companies by being innovative and swift in the development of new technology. Investment from organizations like Pioneer Hi-Bred and Golden Opportunities helps us to maintain our position as a leader in plant genomics research and move one step closer to bringing our technology to market." For more information on Performance Plants Inc. please visit their Web site at: www.performanceplants.com |
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