Back to the PR Info summary Press Release 19. October 2007
Mint-fresh Innovations from the Rhine Valley
plantdustrial – linking plant and industrial biotechnology
Nettetal-Cologne, Germany, October 19th 2007
The 3rd price in the Research & Innovation Contest arranged by the Chamber of Industry and Commerce „Mittlerer Niederrhein“ awards Phytowelt for new ideas and products in the field of green biotechnology. The award, handed over on occasion of a grand gala by the President of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Mr. Wilhelm Werhahn and by the Northrhine-Westphalian Minister for Innovation, Dr. Andreas Pinkwart, emphasizes the increasing importance of innovative concepts and products of agbiotechnological background for the country’s economy.
The jury acknowledged the success of Phytowelt GreenTechnologies GmbH especially for creating numerous new mint lines by applying its core technologies, the somatic hybridization, a method to optimize plants avoiding genetic engineering. In this exemplary research project, which was supported by the „Fachagentur für Nachwachsende Rohstoffe“ (FNR, Agency for Renewable Resources – www.fnr.de), Phytowelt demonstrated that the methods applied in this project are simplifying the access to renewably raw materials on the base of plant products for the chemical industry and are increasing the yield of desired compounds in the biomass.
“The Mint-Project is living prove that our concept “phytoplus – added value in and from plants” can generate a multitude of new products ready for the market in the shor-test possible amount of time,.” comments Dr. Peter Welters, CEO of Phytowelt GreenTechnologies GmbH the jury’s decision. Success proves him right, for in a new FNR supported project for breeding new poplar varieties (see press release from Phytowelt, May 31st 2007) the same techniques will be applied. “Our modular product portfolio comprizes our methodologies phytochemistry, phytodiversity, phytoengineering and phytomining and is a totally new approach to contract research in this area. It is not only a considerably faster approach but it also delivers exceptionally interesting results.“
Based on the techniques mentioned above, Phytowelt develops also new concepts for the sustainable production and processing of raw materials for polymer chemistry. As founding member and partner in the new Northrhine-Westphalian cluster CLIB2021 Phytowelt GreenTechnologies GmbH aims at setting the switches for a more environment friendly and more sustainable industry.Related links:
Phytowelt GreenTechnologies’ Menta Project (en)Press release about new poplar varieties
Presse release about Cluster 2021
Information about Research and Innovation award: www.ihk-innovationspreis.de
Movie clip relating to innovation award