What do Insulin, Drought Resistant Plants, Diesel, and Toxin-Detecting Food Packaging Have in Common?

Media is invited to attend the BIO 2002 Media Brunch featuring executives from five leading companies whose new biotechnology applications are creating benefits in food safety, the environment, agriculture, and medicine. In addition, Dr. Patrick Moore, founder of Greenpeace and former Greenpeace Canada President, will provide a unique point of view on biotechnology opponents.

Date: Sunday, June 9, 2002
Time: 11:00 a.m.- 1:30 p.m.
Brunch, including papaya-strawberry daiquiris made with biotech enhanced papayas, will be served.

Location: Metro Toronto Convention Centre
South Meeting Room Level 700, Room 713B

***Journalists must present official media credentials to attend***

This is your opportunity to meet the following biotechnology leaders one-on-one:

Tim Haig, President and CEO, BIOX Corporation
BIOX is developing biodiesel, a plant or animal-based renewable alternative to petroleum. Priced competitively with petroleum diesel, it produces 80% less carbon dioxide emissions and significant reductions in other harmful emissions and smog. BIOX expects to soon begin commercial-scale production of biodiesel from vegetable and seed oils, recycled cooking oils, or animal fats. Its exhaust smells like popcorn or french fries.
David Dennis, President and CEO, Performance Plants Inc.
Performance Plants is maximizing crop potential to meet the demands of a growing global population. Its technologies increase crop yields, enhance tolerance to drought and other environmental stresses, to ensure high yields of crop plants, even during years of inclement climatic conditions, to maintain an adequate global food supply. Field trials of several of these important technologies are underway in Canada.

John McClellan, Director of Trypsin Business Unit, ProdiGene
ProdiGene is using recombinant protein from plants, instead of animals, for the production of human vaccines and pharmaceuticals. One of ProdiGene’s processes uses maize (corn) to produce an enzyme called Trypsin, which is used in the production of insulin and digestive aids. Commercial scale-up of Trypsin began in early 2002. ProdiGene has a pipeline of proteins, usually harvested from animals that are being developed using their transgenic plant system. In addition to non-animal sourced proteins they are also developing vaccines for LtB (Travelers Disease), Hepatitis B and AIDS.

Andrew Baum, President and CEO, SemBioSys Genetics Inc.
SemBioSys Genetics Inc. is producing recombinant proteins in oilseed plants for use by biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and personal care companies. SemBioSys technology is the only transgenic system (plant or animal) that addresses protein purification as well as bulk protein production costs. SemBioSys is currently producing an array of pharmaceuticals in safflower plants, including a peptide to treat life-threatening obesity conditions.

William T. Bodenhamer, President and CEO, Toxin Alert Inc.
Toxin Alert Inc. is developing film wrap and bags to detect pathogens in food. The test spot on the consumer food packaging immediately changes shape or colour when pathogens including E. coli, Salmonella, or Listeria are detected. The material requires no special handling and does not degrade with heat, cold or microwave cooking.

The brunch is hosted by BIO and sponsored by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Community & Economic Development. State of Pennsylvania Governor, Mark Schweiker, will also be in attendance.

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