Targeted Growth Unlocks Pathways to Dramatically Increase Algae Oil Content

Breakthrough Could Reduce Cost for Algal Fuel Production
SEATTLE--(Business Wire)--
Bioscience firm Targeted Growth (TGI) today announced it has developed a way to
increase the lipid content of cyanobacteria by approximately 400 percent. This
discovery will dramatically increase the oil yield per acre, decreasing the cost
of algae production and helping algae-based biofuels become price-competitive
with petroleum.

During the past four years the entire genome of cyanobacteria has been sequenced
by researchers. TGI molecular biologists and their collaborators have identified
and tested every active gene and made major breakthroughs in both adding new
genes and manipulating their functions to create a high oil-yielding algae
strain. The company has filed multiple patent applications on these innovations.

"There`s no way that algae are sustainable as a feedstock for fuel or energy
unless you can dramatically increase the yield per acre and optimize the strain
for use as an energy source," said Tom Todaro, CEO of Targeted Growth. "Any type
of modification requires intricate understanding of and experience with
molecular biology as well as significant testing. Our decade of working at the
molecular level on other photosynthetic organisms has given us a significant
advantage in working with cyanobacteria."

In addition to developing algae strains for use as a feedstock for conventional
diesel, TGI is also testing algae`s ability to be converted to biojet fuel
through a partnership with refining technology developer UOP LLC, a Honeywell
company. UOP`s renewable jet fuel process technology has produced renewable
fuels from various oil-based feedstocks, including algae, for use in three
separate airplane test flights in the past year.

Targeted Growth`s expansion into algae is a natural extension of the company`s
legacy of deep experience and success in agricultural bioscience. Since 1998,
the company has leveraged both genetic and traditional agricultural methods to
help solve some of the world`s most pressing issues related to the use of
agriculture for both food and fuel.

Its initial breakthrough came in the field of yield enhancement, when its
scientists discovered a way to produce double-digit yield increases in certain
row crops through regulating the cell division cycle. The company has since
licensed this technology to a major seed company. In 2007, the company
introduced a non-transgenic version of camelina sativa, an oilseed crop that
grows in rotation with wheat. In January, 2009, a Japan Airlines Boeing 747
conducted a test flight powered in part by camelina oil processed into bio-jet
fuel by UOP, a Honeywell Company.

About Targeted Growth, Inc.

Targeted Growth, Inc., was founded in 1999 with a goal of developing
technologies that would increase the productivity of existing farmland and
create new crops for use on land otherwise unsuitable for agriculture. Today,
Targeted Growth is a global leader in bioscience, having developed technologies
that both increase seed size and yield in major crops. It has also developed a
line of dedicated energy crops, including camelina and sugarcorn, as well as a
non-agricultural feedstock - cyanobacteria algae for biomass. The company has
strategic partnerships with leading researchers and agribusinesses around the
world. Targeted Growth is based in Seattle, Wash., with labs in Seattle,
Saskatchewan, Ottawa and New Brunswick. More information is available at
www.targetedgrowth.com.

Scoville PR
John Williams, 206-625-0075
jwilliams@scovillepr.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009