MAYNARD, Mass., Nov. 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- AquaBounty
Technologies, Inc. (AIM: ABTU; OTC: AQBT), a biotechnology company
focused on enhancing productivity in aquaculture, and a
majority-owned subsidiary of Intrexon Corporation (NYSE: XON),
announces today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
has approved the Company's New Animal Drug Application for the
production, sale, and consumption of its AquAdvantage®
Salmon, an Atlantic salmon that has been genetically enhanced to
reach market size in less time than conventional farmed Atlantic
salmon.
Ronald L. Stotish, Ph.D., Chief
Executive Officer of AquaBounty, commented, "AquAdvantage Salmon is
a game-changer that brings healthy and nutritious food to consumers
in an environmentally responsible manner without damaging the ocean
and other marine habitats. Using land-based aquaculture
systems, this rich source of protein and other nutrients can be
farmed close to major consumer markets in a more sustainable
manner."
The U.S. currently imports over 90% of all the seafood, and more
specifically over 95% of the Atlantic salmon, it consumes.
AquAdvantage Salmon will offer the opportunity for an
economically viable domestic aquaculture industry while providing
consumers a fresh and delicious product.
Through greater efficiency and localized production,
AquaBounty's AquAdvantage Salmon increases productivity while
reducing costs and the environmental impacts associated with
current salmon farming operations. Land-based aquaculture
systems can provide a continuous supply of fresh, safe, traceable,
and sustainable AquAdvantage Salmon to communities across the U.S.
and do it with a reduced carbon footprint. Importantly, it
offers an alternative approach to fish farming that does not
exploit the oceans.
Jack A. Bobo, Senior Vice
President and Chief Communications Officer at Intrexon, stated,
"The U.S. Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee encourages
Americans to eat a wide variety of seafood—including wild caught
and farmed—as part of a healthy diet rich in healthy fatty
acids. However, this must occur in an environmentally
friendly and sustainable manner. FDA's approval of the
AquAdvantage Salmon is an important step in this
direction."
About AquaBounty Technologies. Inc.
AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. is a publicly traded company whose
largest shareholder is Intrexon Corporation (NYSE: XON).
Intrexon is a synthetic biology company with diverse
interests in medicine, food and agriculture, and fuels and the
environment. AquaBounty is an aquaculture company focused on
improving productivity in commercial aquaculture, a $144 billion industry and the fastest-growing
segment of the worldwide food industry. The Company's
objective is the application of biotechnology to ensure the
availability of high quality seafood to meet global consumer
demand. AquaBounty is developing products to address critical
production constraints in the most popular farmed species, focusing
initially on salmon, trout, and tilapia. Its
AquAdvantage® fish program is based upon a single,
specific molecular modification in fish that results in more rapid
growth in early development.
Safe Harbor Statement
Some of the statements made in this press release are
forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements
are based upon our current expectations and projections about
future events and generally relate to our plans, objectives, and
expectations for the development of our business. Although
management believes that the plans and objectives reflected in or
suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable, all
forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and
actual future results may be materially different from the plans,
objectives, and expectations expressed in this press release.
For more information, please contact:
Dave Conley
Director of Communications
AquaBounty Technologies, Inc.
Tel: +1 (613) 294-3078
dconley@aquabounty.com
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SOURCE AquaBounty Technologies, Inc.