[news 2005-2006]

Performance Plants Inc. honoured by national biotechnology organization

For immediate release

Tuesday, May 17, 2005

KINGSTON, ON -- Performance Plants, Inc., a spinoff company of Queen’s University’s PARTEQ Innovations, has been awarded a Promising Early Stage Company Award by BIOTECanada, the national association representing the Canadian biotechnology community.

The award recognizes Performance Plants as “a Canadian company poised to take off with demonstrated leadership and significant achievements during the past year.” Founded in 1995, Performance Plants focuses on the modification of plant metabolism to enhance crop protection and increase yields. It will join fellow award winners ImmunoVaccine Technologies of Halifax and Trillium Therapeutics of Toronto at BIOTECanada’s annual general meeting and awards ceremony in Toronto on May 17.

“We are thrilled to receive this honour from Canada’s biotechnology sector,” says Dr. David Dennis, President & CEO of Performance Plants. “It is extremely gratifying to see the value of our approach to crop improvement recognized in this way.”

The BIOTECanada award is the second award acknowledging Performance Plants’ accomplishments. In 2003 the company received the Kingston Technology Council’s Pinnacle Award, in recognition of innovation, entrepreneurship and community contribution in the area of technology.

Performance Plants has established global product development agreements with strategic partners in the corn, soybean, cotton, turf and ornamentals markets. The company’s head office and trait discovery centre are in Kingston, ON. Its product development and field trial facility is located at Innovation Place in Saskatoon, SK.

Contact:
Mr. Peter Matthewman, Vice-President, Business Development
P: 613. 545.0390
E: info@performanceplants.com
www.performanceplants.com

About BioteCanada:
BIOTECanada is the national association representing the broad spectrum of biotech constituents including the health, agricultural, environment, and industrial sectors, as well as academic and research intuitions and other organizations dedicated to the long term and sustainable development of biotechnology, its practices and products.

www.biotech.ca