TEL-AVIV, Israel, April 22, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Prof. Jonathan Gressel, Chief Scientific Officer of TransAlgae Ltd., was the recipient of the 2010 "Israel Prize" in agriculture, Israel's top science award.. Prof. Gressel is an internationally renowned expert in plant biotechnology, and has carried out important studies in understanding the mechanisms that allow the successful control of weeds and how weeds evolve resistance, on how to prevent gene flow, as well as on crop domestication. One of Prof. Gressel's scientific solutions while at the Weizmann Institute of Science is commercially applied for the control of the parasitic Striga (witchweed) in Africa.

Prof. Gressel is now the CSO of TransAlgae Ltd., which was founded in 2008 to develop and commercialize genetically engineered algae. These algae are being optimized to grow in various water sources and utilize industrially emitted carbon-dioxide and cost-effectively produce oil, protein and other co-products.

"We believe that genetically engineered, domesticated algae provide the best, large-scale, sustainable solution to the multiple resource limitations that the global economy is experiencing. My research on the molecular mechanisms of herbicide resistance in plants and on bio-safety issues is already being applied by TransAlgae scientists to modify algae, providing process stability in algae growth and harvesting which are barriers that must be overcome in the industry. Atop this platform genes are being engineered to increase yield and quality of products," said Prof. Gressel.

About TransAlgae

TransAlgae is building the framework for producing algal biofuel and animal feed, using genetic engineering combined with practical agricultural, industrial and economic approaches. The company's scientific team has completed its first generation of transgenic algae, and a field research site has been established at a 400MW natural gas power station. In addition to greater productivity, the genetic approach enables rapid growth, generates multiple high-quality products, while ensuring resistance to contamination and bio-safety against inadvertent release.

To learn more about TransAlgae, LLC, please visit: http://www.transalgae.com or contact us at info@transalgae.com, +1-440-423-0520 (US), +972-8-9366167 (Israel).

    Contact:

    Nellya Litae
    Business Development Manager
    nellya@transalgae.com

SOURCE TransAlgae

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