THOUSAND OAKS, Calif., April 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Ceres, Inc. (Nasdaq: CERE), an agricultural biotechnology company focused on forage crops, has been awarded two patents related to crop traits that can increase and protect crop yields under less-than-optimal environmental conditions. The traits have potential application in numerous food, feed and fiber crops, such as corn, soybean, forage sorghum and cotton.

Ceres said that it plans to advance traits protected by these patents in its own crops of interest as well as offer other seed companies a license to the technology, including the option for exclusivity in certain crops. The company indicated that experimental results of plants with these traits have demonstrated significant advantages, such as plants that can be sown more densely together or that could be more productive on marginal farmland.

"There is a continuing need for crops that can thrive under dense populations and less than optimal environmental conditions," said Ceres President and CEO Richard Hamilton. He explained that densely planted crops tend to direct their energy toward lifting their leaves into the sunlight rather than putting energy into storage or grain production. This negatively impacts yields. "Traits that direct the plant to continue to focus on grain development or store energy in its stems and leaves could have a significant impact on increasing crop yields and farm income as well as revitalize low-value cropland."

The new patents announced today by Ceres were issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as U.S. Patent No. 9,303,268  and U.S. Patent No. 9,309,573. Ceres owns or maintains exclusive licensed rights to approximately 90 issued patents and numerous pending patent applications in the United States and in various foreign jurisdictions. 

About Ceres
Ceres, Inc. is an agricultural biotechnology company that develops and markets seeds and traits to produce crops for animal feed, sugar and other markets. The company's advanced plant breeding and biotechnology technology platforms, which can increase crop productivity, improve quality, reduce crop inputs and improve cultivation on marginal land, have broad application across multiple crops, including food, feed, fiber and fuel crops. Ceres markets its seed products under its Blade brand. The company also licenses its biotech traits and technology to other life science companies and organizations.

Ceres Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, including statements regarding Ceres' efforts to develop and commercialize its products and technologies, anticipated yields and product performance, status of crop plantings, short-term and long-term business strategies, market and industry expectations, future operating metrics, and future results of operations and financial position, including anticipated cost savings from the company's restructuring plan and projected cash expenditures, are forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are, in some cases, beyond Ceres' control. Factors that could materially affect actual results can be found in Ceres' filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Ceres undertakes no obligation to update publicly, except to the extent required by law, any forward-looking statements for any reason after the date the company issues this press release to conform these statements to actual results or to changes in the company's expectations.

SOURCE Ceres, Inc.

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