FuturaGene is a wholly owned subsidiary of Suzano Pulp and Paper, and Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).

The organization has announced that a patent has been issued to them in Brazil.

It covers the downregulation of the expression of plant target genes or other target genes, including genes of insect pests and disease agents.

In 2014, FuturaGene entered into an exclusive license agreement with CSIRO for the use of RNAi technology in eucalyptus in Brazil.

Under the license, FuturaGene has the right to sublicense the technology and has non-exclusive rights to the technology in eucalyptus outside of Brazil. 

FuturaGene has been utilizing the technology to develop varieties of eucalyptus, which are resistant to pests and diseases and for modifying wood properties. 

The CSIRO-invented hairpin RNAi technology is a powerful tool for screening, identifying and modulating genes of interest for targeted therapeutics, gene-based interventions and selective breeding.

CSIRO’s primary use of hairpin RNAi technology is in plant and animal genetics where genes are selected to improve traits in crops and livestock such as disease resistance and nutritional content.

CSIRO makes its patented RNAi technologies available through commercial and research licenses in diverse fields of application.