Game-changing agtech innovation company MyFloraDNA opens in Davis

グレーターサクラメント

Contact:
Elizabeth Jones
PR & Communications Manager
ejones@greatersacramento.com
(916) 287-9072

07/27/2020

Cutting-edge technology will save breeders time, money and risk to crops

(Sacramento, CA) – A new agtech company uses a single DNA genetic test to improve breeders’ profits, and they have opened in the heart of the most fertile land in the U.S., the Sacramento Valley. MyFloraDNA specializes in testing fruit and nut trees to help breeders create new varieties of crops to battle climate change, provide more nutrition and produce a greater yield. Nut and fruit trees are major cash crops in California, contributing $21.7 billion to the state’s economy annually according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

“This is revolutionary for the nut and fruit industry – because it takes years, up to 10 years sometimes, for these trees to mature. With our simple test, breeders get an answer in just days on what varieties are incorporating the genes associated with the traits they are looking for,” said Angel Fernandez i Marti, CEO & Co-Founder of MyFloraDNA.

MyFloraDNA will allow breeders to save money, time and land. Classical breeding processes cost hundreds-of-millions of dollars, but a simple genome analysis will be game-changing for this multi-billion-dollar industry. Customers can simply go onto MyFloraDNA.com and create a profile of the new variety traits they are seeking, including drought-resistant, disease-resistant fruits that provide more flavor or nuts that contain more fatty acids.

“We have a food crisis around the world, and our product is going to help breeders and farmers have a more abundant supply and help them predict the growth of their crops,” said COO & Co-Founder Javier Buendia Solis.

A sample collection kit, similar to 23andMe, allows the breeder to collect leaves from their samples and send it directly to MyFloraDNA. Breeders then receive an automated report in 72 hours. These custom genome scans allow them to make informed and educated decisions on their next steps in selecting and growing their crops.

California almond farmers alone spend $1.8 billion annually on expenses including pollination, irrigation and pesticides. MyFloraDNA can cut those costs by providing faster analysis on the crops to accelerate and optimize the cultivation process.

“There is a plethora of almond, walnut, orange, lemon and peach and grape breeders in this region that will benefit from our product. We aren’t stopping with fruit and nut trees. Hopefully, by next year, our portfolio will increase to more crops,” said Fernandez i Marti.

グレーターサクラメント経済評議会 assisted MyFloraDNA with its location search. The nut and fruit tree company is located at the UC Davis-HM.CLAUSE Life Science Innovation Center, a business incubator that provides support to turn ideas into businesses. This location will allow the founders of MyFloraDNA access to shared lab space alongside other startups.

“MyFloraDNA exemplifies why the UC Davis-HM.CLAUSE Life Science Innovation Center was established, to create an environment that nurtures innovation, fosters creativity and inspires synergy by building a strong partnership with universities, public and private sectors,” said Vincent Asiago, Director R&D Portfolio and Innovation at HM.CLAUSE.

The connection with UC Davis and faculty and proximity to surrounding universities including Sacramento State and to the San Joaquin Valley will facilitate their growth and grant them easy access to talent in genomics, data analysis, communications and marketing.

 “UC Davis and the City of Davis are the perfect space for this game-changing company to grow because the city is an innovation hub for agtech with hundreds of companies’ products used globally,” said Barry Broome, President & CEO of the Greater Sacramento Economic Council.

 

グレーターサクラメント経済評議会について

The Greater Sacramento Economic Council is the catalyst for innovative growth strategies in the Capital Region of California. The organization spearheads community-led direction to retain, attract, grow and scale tradable sectors, develop advanced industries and create jobs and investment throughout a six-county region. Greater Sacramento represents a collaboration between local and state governments, market leaders, influencers and stakeholders, with the sole mission of driving inclusive economic growth. The Greater Sacramento region was founded on discovery, built on leadership and fueled by innovation.

About MyFloraDNA

MyFloraDNA is a Smart Genome Discovery startup that enables clients to predict the inherited traits of their crops. We are producing an easy-to-use DNA technology and intelligent computing that can be deployed to help breeders, growers and nurseries accelerate the process of selecting the best seedlings and growing their crops efficiently and accurately. In addition, MyFloraDNA helps breeders and nurseries with aspects related to quality control by providing a DNA barcoding profile to ensure that the plants and seeds sold match 100% and are not off-type. Our difference resides in the speed, low-cost and personalized way of interacting with the client and delivering the results to help them reach their goals.

About HM.CLAUSE Innovation Center & UC Davis

The fourth largest seed company in the world, Limagrain is an international cooperative group created and directed by French farmers. As a creator and producer of plant varieties, Limagrain markets field seeds, vegetable seeds and cereal products.
HM.CLAUSE, Business Unit of Group Limagrain, is an innovative global leader in the development, production and commercialization of vegetable seeds. HM.CLAUSE belongs to the top 5 vegetable seed entities in the world. With over 2,000 varieties in more than 20 vegetable crops, HM.CLAUSE provides innovative solutions to growers worldwide.

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