The Flax Council of Canada Selects Cibus Global to Develop Non-Transgenic, Value-Added Crops

Innovative RTDS Technology Sets Stage for New Paradigm in Plant Trait
Development
WINNIPEG, Manitoba--(Business Wire)--
The Flax Council of Canada has announced an alliance with Cibus Global to
develop non-transgenic traits that will help expand and enhance the Canadian
flax industry. Using Cibus` Rapid Trait Development System (RTDS), the
collaboration will develop non-transgenic crop traits that will improve yields
for flax farmers and promise healthier flax-based oils for consumers without
jeopardizing access to Europe, the world's biggest flax market, which currently
restricts transgenic-based flax products. The partnership is supported by the
Government of Canada.

"New and improved flax varieties will give Canadian farmers increased flax yield
and more opportunities to succeed in international markets," said Federal
Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. "The Government of Canada knows that
agriculture is a cornerstone of our economy and that`s why we`re pleased to
partner with the Flax Council of Canada to help keep farmers on the cutting edge
with investments in research and innovation." In February, the Government of
Canada announced that the Flax Council will receive up to CAN $4 million (US
$3.99 million) toward the project with the end goal of maintaining Canada`s
position as the world`s top flax producer.

An incredibly versatile crop, flax`s Omega-3 fatty acids and other nutritional
benefits have made flax seeds and oils (linseed oil) popular food ingredients
for people of all ages. It`s also ideal for animal consumption, fibers such as
linen and industrial output, including linoleum and other building materials.
While Canadian flax is exported globally, 70 percent of Canada`s flax is
exported to Europe, underscoring the importance of 100 percent non-transgenic
flax crops-such as those that will be developed with RTDS.

In the European Union, crops developed using mutagenesis techniques are exempted
by the 2001 E.U. Directive on GMOs under Article 3, Annex 1B exemption. The U.S.
Department of Agriculture has determined that Cibus` RTDS crops are
non-transgenic, mutagenesis-derived products; an independent team of Belgian
scientists published a report with the same conclusion in Environmental
Biosafety Research(2009). Pathways for regulatory approval in Canada for
mutagenesis-derived products are straightforward, with no Canadian regulatory
time delays expected. The RTDS-developed oilseed flax, which will allow North
American growers to utilize a more effective and efficient weed control system,
is expected to come to market in 2015.

"The Canadian flax industry has set ambitious goals for acreage expansion and
product improvement in the coming years while remaining fully committed to
responding to European consumers` concerns around transgenic crops and crop
contamination," said Barry Hall, President, Flax Council of Canada. "Cibus will
make these goals a reality thanks to its non-transgenic RTDS system that will
deliver us the high-value traits we need to make flax easier and more profitable
to grow while maintaining the level of quality that our customers demand. We
hope it is just the first of many traits we develop together, including oil
quality and quantity improvements."

"The Flax Council of Canada is the flax industry`s preeminent trade group, and
they are setting a responsible, strategic precedent by opting for a
non-transgenic approach to trait enhancement," said Keith Walker, President,
Cibus Global. "In that regard, we`re delighted to receive this endorsement of
Cibus` RTDS by a major trade organization, backed by a global agricultural super
power, and the recognition that RTDS is a viable alternative to transgenics."

Mutagenesis-derived flax is already produced and readily accepted globally. RTDS
is a more precise version of mutagenesis that will use flax`s natural process of
gene repair to yield desired traits. By mimicking natural methods in a highly
targeted way, RTDS technology avoids the introduction of foreign genetic
material into plants, as well as the regulation associated with transgenic (GM)
crops.

MEDIA AVAILABILITY (April 22, 11:00am ET): Members of the press are invited to
participate in a tele-conference featuring senior leadership from The Flax
Council of Canada and Cibus Global. For dial-in number, please contact Shawna
Seldon, 917 971 7852 or shawna@rosengrouppr.com.

VIDEO: Cibus Global: The Environmentally Friendly Alternative to Transgenics:
http://www.cibus.com/video2.php

About The Flax Council of Canada

The Flax Council of Canada (www.flaxcouncil.ca) is a broad-based, non-commercial
association. Its mandate is to promote the use of flax and flax products. The
Council represents and has input from all sectors of the flax industry, some of
which include: seed growers, producers, grain handlers, traders, manufacturers,
marketing agencies, processors, private and public researchers, educational
institutions and governments. The Council fosters crop and product development,
exchanges information and communicates throughout the industry. Located in
downtown Winnipeg, the Council operates at the hub of Canada`s grains and
oilseed trade.

About Cibus Global

Cibus Global (www.cibus.com) develops advantageous crop traits with far-reaching
implications in agriculture, alternative energy and product development. Through
its proprietary Rapid Trait Development System (RTDSTM), Cibus creates traits in
a directed way with more precision than traditional breeding techniques and
without the introduction of foreign genetic material. RTDS has proven itself in
the laboratory with several different applications, as well as in initial field
trials of Cibus` first commercial crop, canola. Cibus` products will be brought
to market through strategic, crop-specific partnerships; in September 2009,
Cibus announced a strategic alliance with Israeli-based Makhteshim-Agan to
develop traits in multiple crops.

B-roll of Cibus executives, laboratory and greenhouse is available at
www.cibus.com/broll.

Cibus Global
North America:
Shawna Seldon, 917-971-7852
shawna@rosengrouppr.com
or
Europe:
Jonathan Birt, +44 (0)20 7269 7205
jonathan.birt@fd.com

Copyright Business Wire 2010