RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Dec. 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — AgBiome LLC, an innovator in microbes for agriculture, today announced an important research partnership with Syngenta Biotechnology, Inc.  In the partnership, AgBiome and Syngenta bring unique strengths to discovery and development of novel, high-value trait products for protection of specific crops.  Under the terms of this partnership, Syngenta funds a multi-year discovery research program at AgBiome and will select potential development candidates in its field and crop of interest based on successful technical milestones.

“We are excited to be working with Syngenta, one of the world’s leading agricultural companies, to discover new traits using AgBiome’s proprietary technologies,” said Dan Tomso, Chief Science Officer at AgBiome.  “AgBiome’s ever-growing collection of microbes and sequence data, coupled with our proprietary screening capabilities, provide a powerful engine for trait discovery.”

“AgBiome is the ideal partner for this research program, and we anticipate great outcomes from the partnership,” said Patrice Selles, Head of External Collaborations and Adjacent Technologies at Syngenta.  We have already enjoyed working closely with their team to structure this unique deal, which represents a true collaborative foundation, addressing the interests of both companies.”

Financial terms are not being disclosed.

About AgBiome:
AgBiome is a venture-backed agricultural discovery company based in Research Triangle Park, NC.  The company completed its Series A financing of $17.5M in 2013, led by Polaris Partners and joined by ARCH Venture Partners, Harris & Harris Group, Innotech Advisors, Syngenta Ventures, Monsanto Growth ventures, and Novozymes.  AgBiome uses its proprietary GENESIS™ platform to collect, isolate, analyze, and test microbes for use as biological products and as sources of trait genes.  AgBiome engages in multiple partnerships to gain access to seed and crop protection markets for its novel products, building long-term value for its owners.

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