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Breathtaking Agricultural Biotechnology Momentum: Ceres (CERE), Origin Agritech (SEED)

Jan. 10, 2015 5:22 PM ETCERE-OLD, SEED2 Comments
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https://static.seekingalpha.com/uploads/2015/1/10/saupload_cere.jpg Ceres, Inc. (CERE)

Shares of CERE surged $0.04 (or +17.67%) to $0.28 on Friday's trading session, after the company reported favorable results from its biotech corn evaluations in China.

CERE said that its multi-gene combinations in corn achieved an approximately 25% yield advantage over controls in many of its research-scale field evaluations involving two different hybrids.

Field evaluations represent a critical stage in the development of biotech crop traits, as they provide greater insight into how traits may perform in an agricultural setting.

The company's strategy is to focus on optimized gene combinations that can show large, step increases in trait performance. CERE's scientists believe that combining genes together, to either create a stronger trait or combine complementary traits, provides the best approach to generate high impact advantages, such as increased grain yield or drought tolerance

Corn is the most widely produced feed grain in the United States. According to CERE, at today's corn prices and acreage in North America, a 1% increase in yield is worth over a half-billion dollars annually at the farm gate. Corn provides an additional out-licensing opportunity for traits that CERE is developing for use in sorghum and other crops.

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CERE is an agricultural biotechnology company that develops and markets seeds to produce crops for bioenergy and other markets that utilize plant biomass. CERE combines advanced plant breeding and biotechnology to develop hybrids that can address the limitations of first-generation bioenergy feedstocks. These 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.

More about Ceres, Inc. (CERE) at www.ceres.net

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https://static.seekingalpha.com/uploads/2015/1/10/saupload_seed.jpg Origin Agritech Limited (SEED)

SEED stock closed at $1.44, up $0.09 (or +6.67%), and 54,263 of its shares were traded on Friday's market activity.

SEED recently has received the renewed Bio-safety Certificate from the Ministry of Agriculture for its genetically modified phytase corn.

Genetically modified (GM) seed products in China must undergo five separate stages of approval beginning with a phase one laboratory approval to the final receipt of the Bio-safety Certificate in phase five. Bio-safety Certificate has an effective period of five years and the Ministry of Agriculture may review additional data for safety evaluations during the renewal application process.

According to SEED, in fiscal year 2014 the company further advanced its GM corn seed pipeline with several generations of GM technologies and in addition to its progress with the regulatory approvals, SEED has made significant progress in the backcrossing of its GM traits into its hybrid corn varieties.

SEED said that period was a transition year for both the agricultural biotechnology and conventional seed industries in China. For the genetically modified technologies, there are indications that the Chinese government is starting to promote Genetically Modified (GM) technologies and is trying to educate the public about the safety of these technologies.

On its unaudited financial results for fiscal 2014, SEED posted total revenues of RMB414.89 million (US$67.52 million), a decrease of 14% versus fiscal 2013, mainly due to the lower sales for the Company's rice seed business and a decline in the corn seed contract production businesses.

On the operating improvement front SEED was able to overcome the challenges in one of the worst years in the seed industry by significantly reducing the operating costs, increasing sales volume of its corn seed business, and managing its inventory reduction efforts.

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SEED is China's leading agricultural biotechnology company, specializing in crop seed breeding and genetic improvement, seed production, processing, distribution, and related technical services. Leading the development of crop seed biotechnologies, SEED's phytase corn was the first transgenic corn to receive the Bio-Safety Certificate from China's Ministry of Agriculture.

More about Origin Agritech Limited (SEED) at www.originseed.com.cn/en

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https://static.seekingalpha.com/uploads/2014/12/23/saupload_crwe_logo.jpg Crown Equity Holdings Inc. (OTCPK:CRWE)

The company is currently developing its CRWE Network ( www.CRWE-PR.com ), a growing network of community targeted sites.

It has recently included Huntington Beach ( www.huntingtonbeach.crwe-pr.com ), a seaside city within Orange County in Southern California to the CRWE Network.

Huntington Beach is bordered by the Pacific Ocean on the west, and has been long known for its long 9.5-mile (15.3 km) stretch of sandy beach, mild climate, and excellent surfing, earning it the nickname of Surf City.

Companies employing more than 500 workers in Huntington Beach include Boeing, Quiksilver, Cambro Manufacturing, Dynamic Cooking Systems, C&D Zodiac, Inc., Triad Financial, E-Trade Mortgage and Huntington Beach Hospital.

The City of Huntington Beach had an estimated population in 2013 (U.S. Census Bureau) of 197,575, and represents an important marketplace for the CRWE Network, which business model is based on selling advertising to businesses targeting both locally and nationally

The CRWE Network has reached the 1487th community website in the U.S., associated with 3456 ZIP Codes, and includes coverage in the states of California, Mississippi, Michigan, Florida, Nevada and New York, as well as across 10 provinces in Canada.

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CRWE provides marketing solutions that boost customer awareness and merchant visibility on the Internet

More about Crown Equity Holdings Inc. (OTCPK:CRWE) at www.crownequityholdings.com

**

Disclaimer: CRWE-PR Finance ( www.finance.crwe-pr.com ) is not a registered investment adviser. This material is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as an offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell securities. Investors should always conduct their own due diligence with any potential investment, with independent research and other professional advice. Read Full Disclaimer at CRWE-PR Finance www.finance.crwe-pr.com/disclaimer

Analyst's Disclosure: The author has no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

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