"Plant milking” wins technology transfer award
10 June 2011
On 6 June, 2011, the Joint Research Unit for Agronomy and the Environment (LAE) (INRA, INPL-ENSAIA) in Nancy was recognised for its contribution to one of the “ten most successful examples of technology transfer” by CURIE, a public research promotion network. The prize rewards a remarkable success story based on an innovative technique developed by the LAE: the “milking” of plants to extract plant molecules for pharmaceutical and cosmetic use. This technology, protected by an INRA and INPL worldwide patent, led to the creation of Plant Advanced Technologies SA in 2005. The company now leads the industrial development and production of active principles in the Lorraine region in France.
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INRA’s Joint Research Unit for Agronomy and the Environment (LAE) was awarded the CURIE Network technology transfer prize at the network’s 20th annual congress in Tours, France. The ceremony paid tribute to the professionalism of INRA’s and INPL-Ensaia’s technology transfer services, which have worked together with remarkable synergy since the beginning of the project.
The success story began in 1997 with the development of a “plant milking” technology which allows the repeated and non-destructive extraction of molecules of pharmaceutical and cosmetic interest from plant roots cultivated in a liquid medium. Numerous plant compounds are used by the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries. But active principles such as anti-cancer agents are sometimes difficult to synthesise chemically, and their production under natural conditions remains limited. This innovative technique solves the problem of supply in the sector of plant-based bioactive molecules.
Plant Advanced Technologies (PAT) SA, which develops the technology under an exclusive license, has begun large-scale production (3,000 sq.m of greenhouse surface) of compounds for the cosmetics sector. Similarly, orders for several plant-based active substances are expected for the pharmaceutical industry. PAT SA employs 20 people, including 13 researchers, engineers and technicians.
Greenhouse production using “plant milking” (PAT) technology.
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© PAT
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Yew root system.
The roots of the tree
produce a molecule with
cancer-fighting properties
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Perfume production
using vetiver root
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Root extract collection
using PAT technology
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Milestones
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| 1999 |
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French patent filed for an innovative extraction process developed by four LAE researchers |
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| 2002 |
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Applications for worldwide extension of patent;
Invention further developed with the support of an engineer; Transfer financed with funding from Oséo |
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| 2003 |
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Two of the scientists join forces with a project sponsor to create a company |
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| 2005 |
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Creation of the start-up Plant Advanced Technologies SAS |
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| 2009 |
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PAT SAS quoted on Euronext stock exchange; becomes PAT SA |
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| 2010 |
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PAT SA becomes leader in the industrial development and production of active principles in the Lorraine region of France (Bioprolor) |
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Bioprolor is a joint research project run by six businesses and seven academic research labs in the Lorraine region (CNRS, INRA, Inserm, Inria and three universities). With a budget of €6.5 million, including €3.2 million in financing from the Regional Council for Lorraine, the project is aimed at developing new, innovative applications.
Additional references:
Scientific contact:
Frédéric Bourgaud, frederic.bourgaud@ensaia.inpl-nancy.fr
Director, Joint Research Unit for Agronomy and the Environment, UMR INRA and INPL-Ensaia, Nancy
Environment and Agronomy Division
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