MOU with CibusDx to Co-Develop Rapid Disease Detection Device
Second Public, Private, Academic Collaboration
October 30, 2017
GUANGZHOU, China-- Sino Agro Food, Inc. (OTCQX: SIAF | OSE: SIAF-ME), a
specialized investment company focused on protein food including seafood and
cattle,
is pleased to announce entry into two partnerships that advance its technical
leadership in aquaculture.
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with CibusDx
In September of 2017, Sino Agro Food, Inc. (SIAF) signed a memorandum of
understanding for cooperation and mutual benefit with CibusDx, a Utah, USA-based
company that has developed a portable device capable of rapid testing for, among
other things, diseases in shrimp and other species of interest to SIAF. The
CibusDx
testing system is also designed to communicate, report, and record the results
of
tests done in the field to secure data repositories. The state of the art
CibusDx system
provides important advances in disease detection methodologies, and will greatly
benefit the aquaculture industry.
The agreement places SIAF on the cutting edge of new technology development that
can be leveraged by the company for its own purposes and for potential licensing
and
training contracts.
SIAF's Chief Scientific Officer. Dr. Ostrowski commented, "Given that SIAF has
multiple species of animals entering its sites daily, it is imperative we have a
method
to rapidly screen incoming animals for disease to maintain high levels of
biosecurity.
This device will screen for selected diseases within an hour, instead of days,
as is the
typical time for collection of samples, sending them to an appropriate lab, and
having
the results returned. The device is easy to use with a minimum of training and
results
cannot be compromised by poor analytical or reporting methods. It will greatly
reduce our risk of bringing disease onto our sites. The device will be used to
monitor
for disease status on SIAF farms on a regular basis."
As outlined in the MOU, SIAF and CibusDX will work together to further develop
and certify the CibusDx system for use by SIAF. The parties will further discuss
SIAF
selling and distributing the CibusDx system within mainland China and SIAF using
the communication capabilities of the CibusDx system to provide exclusive
professional consultation to customers within mainland China.
Said SIAF CEO Solomon Lee, "The MOU with CibusDX is one among many
partnerships we envision with high technology companies to enhance the value and
scientific credibility of SIAF and its investee, Tri-way Industries, Ltd. Such
partnerships will provide the latest technologies as well as an additional
income
stream to the company."
CibusDx has an agreement with the University of Arizona Aquaculture Program to
develop assays and take steps to certify the device and assays through
appropriate
regulatory bodies. SIAF will aid development by providing advice, samples for
testing,
and validation at SIAF laboratories. Dr. Ostrowski and his research team will
lead the
efforts at the SIAF laboratories to be established at its aquaculture facilities
in
Zhongshan, "Aquafarm 4."
SIAF Joins Public, Private, and Academic Collaboration
Several scientific research institutions and an agriculture enterprise have
collaborated to establish a new type of modern research and development
institution,
"Zhongshan Collaborative Innovation Application Research Institute."
The R&D institution brings together provincial plant protection experts,
vegetable
and fruit technology and innovation industrial teams, and the aquaculture
industry
team. The collaboration will rely on technology and operational experience
provided
by Sino Agro Food, Inc. and on strong technical support from the other members
to
accelerate the transformation of agricultural scientific and technological
achievements to promote collaborative research and speed the realization of
agricultural modernization, industrialization and to scale production.
SIAF expects the exchange of complementary expertise among the parties to be of
particular benefit to advance its planned aquaponics and terrestrial plant
missions at
Tri-way's Zhongshan facility.
The Zhongshan Daily published an article about the new collaboration, which is
translated on SIAF's website:
http://www.sinoagrofood.com/content/Torch_new_R-D-Institution
About CibusDx Inc.
CibusDx (http://cibusdx.com) is a Salt Lake City based diagnostic company
dedicated to developing a state-of-the-art food safety platform. A biotechnology
company, CibusDx has developed devices to ensure product safety and quality
control for the food industry, analyzing for food borne bacterial and viral
contaminants.
Peter Grossman
Investor Relations
1 (775) 901-0344
info@sinoagrofood.com
Todd Fromer / Elizabeth Barker
1 (212) 896-1215 / 212-896-1203
SIAF@kcsa.com
Nordic Countries
+46 (0)8 120 558 30
info-se@sinoagrofood.com (erik.ahl@sinoagrofood.com)
About Sino Agro Food, Inc.
SIAF is a specialized investment company focused on protein food. The Company
produces, distributes, markets, and sells sustainable seafood and beef to the
rapidly growing middle class in China. Activities also include production of
organic fertilizer and produce. SIAF is a global leader in developing land based
recirculating aquaculture systems ("RAS"), and with its partners is the world's
largest producer of sustainable RAS prawns.
Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Guangzhou, the Company had over 550
employees and revenue of USD 343 million in 2016. Operations are located in
Guangdong, Qinghai, and Hunan provinces, and in Shanghai. Sino Agro Food is a
public company listed on OTCQX U.S. Premier in the United States and on the Oslo
Børs' Merkur Market in Norway.
News and updates about Sino Agro Food, Inc., including key information, are
published on the Company's website (http://www.sinoagrofood.com), the Company's
Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/SinoAgroFoodInc), and on twitter
@SinoAgroFood (https://twitter.com/SinoAgroFood).
Forward Looking Statements
This release may contain forward-looking statements relating to the business of
SIAF and its subsidiary companies. All statements other than historical facts
are forwardlooking statements, which can be identified by the use of forward
-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects" or similar expressions. These
statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to
differ materially from those anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. These
risks and uncertainties are described in detail in our filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements are based on
SIAF's current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their
potential effects on SIAF. There is no assurance that future developments
affecting SIAF will be those anticipated by SIAF. SIAF undertakes no obligation
to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result
of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under
applicable securities laws.