Lars Berglund, co-founder of the Danish biotech company Cobento A/S receives Innovation Award from Bayer CropScience for his extraction of a plantmade protein, the function of which is to bind vitamin B12 so that the vitamin can be introduced into the body.

Vitamin B12 deficiency is a problem for many elderly people around the world. Close to 30 percent of Danish people aged more than 60 years suffers from lack of vitamin B12. This amounts to around 2-300.000 people.

Humans absorb the important vitamin B12 through their diet. Reduced production of the protein ”intrinsic factor” that binds vitamin B12 to the body means less absorption of vitamin B12, causing a problem especially among the older segment of the population. Vitamin B12 deficiency may lead to irreversible damage to the nervous system and to the development of senility, depression, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Plant made medicine

Lars Berglund and his team have succeeded in producing plants that can form intrinsic factor identical to the kind found in humans. The protein is produced in the wall cress plant which is grown in greenhouses. This brings about hope for the millions of elderly people who cannot absorb sufficient amounts of vitamin B12.

A vitamin tablet with intrinsic factor from the plants ensures that the user can reestablish a natural absorption of vitamin B12. Cobento’s plantproduced protein does not only mean that disease can be prevented; the protein will also improve the possibilities of diagnosing lack of B12.
The current research has resulted in Cobento A/S being one of few companies having optained authorization to grow genetically modified plants for medicine production and who is therefore in a position to carry out the production on a commercial scale.

In this way Cobento’s first GM-plant also helps pave the way for a reorientation of a part of the horticultural and agricultural production of high-value specialty products. The horticultural trade and, in the long term, also agriculture will get the opportunity of bigger earnings by moving from traditional bulk production of low-value products to a production of high-value GM-products.

Bayer supports sustainable agriculture

Ernst v. Franck, Head of Bayer CropScience in the Nordics, explains the initiative behind the In-novation Award: - "Bayer CropScience has made a commitment to promote sustainable agricul-ture on a global scale. We, in the Nordic countries, have therefore chosen to present an annual Innovation Award in support of initiatives which contribute with innovation and sustainable initiatives within integrated and economical production, food quality and safety, plant breeding, and environmental safety.”

“This year’s Danish recipient of the Bayer CropScience Innovation Award contributes in a groundbreaking way to this development”, Ernst v. Franck maintains.

This year’s Innovation Award of Euro 10.000 is divided between this project and a Swedish research project. The Award for the Danish project will be presented today at the University of Aarhus. Carl Åge Pedersen, Head of Dansk Landbrugsrådgivning, Landscenteret (Danish Agricultural Advisory Service, National Centre), will introduce the project and Eyvind Vesselbo, MP and spokesman on environmental policy for Venstre (the Liberal Party), will present the Award.

Contact person:

Gitte Finnich Pedersen, Head of Corporate Communications Bayer Norden
Phone: + 45 45 23 50 07
E-mail: gitte.finnichpedersen.gf@bayer.dk

More information at:
www.bayer.dk
www.cobento.dk