PARIS - Rhône-Poulenc Agro, the agrobiology subsidiary of chemical giant Rhône-Poulenc, has created a joint research venture in conjunction with Biogemma, a plant biotechnology firm that is jointly owned by the seed companies Limagrain and Pau-Euralis and financial institutions Unigrains and Sofiprotéol.

The joint venture, called Rhobio, will conduct research into techniques for making plants resistant to disease, which will entail building up gene libraries and developing genetic engineering technologies such as transformation techniques, transgenic expression systems and protein targeting. Rhobio has been incorporated as a limited company and is based in Lyon.

Rhône-Poulenc Agro, of Clermont-Ferrand, and Paris-based Biogemma say their aim is to develop a competitive center for plant biotechnology in Europe. Biogemma was created in early 1997 and incorporates the biotechnology laboratories of Limagrain and Pau-Euralis. Since its inception, it has operated in close cooperation with Rhône-Poulenc Agro in the development of new-generation crop protection products and the utilization of biotechnology for improving plant quality and productivity.

The two companies signed a letter of intent for the creation of Rhobio last October, and that has now been finalized with the signing of a definitive cooperation agreement. Rhône-Poulenc Agro had a turnover of FFr12.8 billion (US$2.1 billion) in 1997. - James Etheridge