Crop productivity and quality improvement
Hudson River Biotechnology B.V. (HRB) is specialized in optimizing plants that are used to produce high value compounds, for example by increasing yields or introducing innovative traits. HRB uses next-generation breeding techniques, including the revolutionary CRISPR-Cas9 technology to increase plant productivity and quality. HRB is active on two fronts: we offer crop improvement as a service, and we have an active R&D pipeline of our own plants with innovative traits (IP development).
HRB’s leading R&D project entails the genetic optimization of marigold to increase lutein content in the flowers. Lutein (a carotenoid) is a €100 million market and over 90% of the global supply is derived from marigold. Lutein is used to fortify animal feed and is prescribed to treat age-related macula degeneration (AMD), the #1 cause of blindness in the elderly. Marigold is also increasingly employed as a sustainable and non-chemical means to clean agricultural ground of nematodes.
Next to the lutein project, we have several other R&D projects for applications in the food-, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry, including an active ingredient (API) used in a leading anti-cancer treatment.
