Origin Agritech Chairman Dr. Gengchen Han Recaps Participation at the 2023 Asia-Pacific Agri-Food Innovation Summit
BEIJING, Nov. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Origin Agritech Ltd. (NASDAQ: SEED) (the "Company" or "Origin"), a leading Chinese agricultural technology company, today recapped remarks made by Dr. Gengchen Han, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Origin Agritech, during a panel discussion on The Role of Biotechnology in Achieving Food Security at the 2023 Asia-Pacific Agri-Food Innovation Summit (the "Summit") on Tuesday, October 31 in Singapore.
Dr. Han emphasized the dramatic progress made with genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and gene editing technologies. He pointed out the significant advancements in crop productivity and cost reductions attributable to these technologies. Particularly noteworthy was the reversal of roles for China and Latin America, with the former transitioning from a soybean exporter to the world’s largest soybean importer, a change spurred by the adoption of GMO crops.
The panel addressed the challenges faced by the industry, including the high costs associated with bringing GM crops to market and the public’s mixed acceptance of GMOs. However, the future seems promising, with gene editing poised as a less costly and time-consuming alternative with broader applications for a variety of crops.
Dr. Han presented a demonstration of the practical applications of gene editing, revealing significant improvements in nitrogen efficiency and yield in corn without the introduction of foreign genes by Origin Agritech. This breakthrough underscores the potential for gene editing to revolutionize agriculture by enhancing crop efficiency and reducing dependency on fertilizers.
Investment in biotechnology was another critical topic, with Dr. Han noting the need for increased financial backing, especially in Asia. Despite the region’s growing commercialization of biotech crops, funding remains insufficient to meet the burgeoning demands of research and development.
Intellectual property protection emerged as a vital conversation point, reflecting a changing attitude in Asia, where there is now a greater respect for intellectual property. This shift is crucial for securing the investments needed to propel biotech innovations forward.
The panel concluded with a consensus on biotech’s vast potential for tackling food security issues in Asia. However, a one-size-fits-all approach will not suffice. Innovators in the sector must consider tailored business models and pricing strategies to succeed in diverse Asian markets.
To watch the panel discussion in its entirety, visit the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lj2E3gx3IQE
About Origin Agritech Limited
Origin Agritech Limited, founded in 1997 and headquartered in Zhong-Guan-Cun (ZGC) Life Science Park in Beijing, is a leading Chinese agricultural technology company. In crop seed biotechnologies, Origin Agritech’s phytase corn was the first transgenic corn to receive the Bio-Safety Certificate from China’s Ministry of Agriculture. Over the years, Origin has established a robust biotechnology seed pipeline including products with glyphosate tolerance and pest resistance (Bt) traits. For further information, please visit the Company’s website at www.originagritech.com. The Company also maintains a Twitter account for updating investors on company and industry developments, which is https://x.com/origin_agritech.
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For more information, please contact:
Origin Agritech Limited Contact:
Kate Lang (Mandarin/English)
Director of Investor Relations
Phone: +86 186-1839-3368
Email: bing.lang@originseed.com.cn
Investor Relations Contact:
Matthew Abenante, IRC
President
Strategic Investor Relations, LLC
Tel: 347-947-2093
Email: matthew@strategic-ir.com