Media Room - News Release

CONTACT: Geri M. Berdak
The Solae Company
gberdak@solae.com

PURDUE SCHOOL RECEIVES BIOTECH TECHNOLOGY DONATION FROM THE SOLAE COMPANY

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University President Martin C. Jischke (Saturday, 11/8) will announce today that The Solae Company is donating technology to produce plant protein-based laundry detergents, worth several millions of dollars, to Purdue University.
The Solae Company, an alliance between DuPont and Bunge Limited, will give Purdue rights to the technology as well as business plans that will allow for the development of an innovative type of laundry detergent that uses plant protein to clean fabrics more thoroughly and efficiently. The university plans to then sell the technology to an Indiana-based company, as well as use it as a starting point for further research.
" This gift from The Solae Company provides Purdue with a multitude of opportunities," Jischke said. "Not only will the technology provide an advancement in important research in the School of Agriculture, it also will give us the chance to help an Indiana company and increase economic growth in the state."
Announced to the Purdue President's Council during a recognition ceremony, the gift includes technology to produce plant protein-based laundry detergent. Specifically, the process removes protein from plants and attaches to them a chemical similar to those used in typical laundry detergents.
Bernard Y. Tao, a Purdue associate professor of agricultural and biological engineering who helped secure the gift, said Purdue is a natural location for the product's development.
" As Indiana looks to carve out niches in emerging technologies, the state's position as an agricultural leader gives us the raw resources, such as corn and soybeans," Tao said "This is a substantial contribution not only for Purdue but also toward the further advancement of the state's position as a biotechnology leader."
Biotechnology refers to the use of biological material to improve products or engineering processes, such as corn-based ethanol fuel, plastics made from plant fibers instead of petroleum, or soy-based crayons or candles.
" Biotechnology may not get the attention that nanotechnology developments or biomedical advancements do, but how many times in a week do you drive your car or wash your hair or do laundry," Tao said. "The potential to affect people's daily lives could be limitless."
Tao said the technology that The Solae Company is providing could have an impact far beyond clean laundry. He sees possibilities including homeland security, defense and public health.
" There are countless developments that can come from the work The Solae Company has done, as well as other biotechnology research," Tao said. "Purdue and Indiana are in position to be leaders in these advancements. We have the opportunity to affect almost every facet of people's lives."
In addition to developing the detergent, The Solae Company also designed marketing and business plans for its production. And large detergent producers are interested in using the technology.
" As a leader in the research and application of soy protein, we feel strongly about supporting biotechnology and agricultural research at top universities such as Purdue," said Tom Krinski, director - product development and new technology for The Solae Company. "We hope this gift will help advance agricultural education at Purdue, further the economic opportunities for Indiana and benefit the environment by using biodegradable products based on renewable resources reducing our dependency on fossil fuels." In 2001, DuPont gave Purdue more than 30 U.S. and foreign patents for two insecticides designed to combat mites and beetles. It was the first gift of technology in Purdue's history.
DuPont and its subsidiaries have a long history of support for Purdue. The company has given Purdue gifts totaling more than $27 million, including almost $22 million during the past three years. The company also has provided almost $6 million in support of soy-based research at Purdue.
In addition, DuPont employs more than 450 Purdue graduates.
The five-year campaign for Purdue began in 2002 and has already raised more than $779 million of its $1.3 billion goal. Campaign fund raising supports the objectives of Purdue's strategic plan, which include efforts to increase funds for student scholarships, faculty recruitment and retention, programs and centers, and facilities and equipment.

About The Solae Company
The soy protein business was founded in 1958 and was only making industrial soy protein products. The business evolved to making food products 15 years later. For more than 30 years, The Solae Company (formerly DuPont Protein Technologies, and now an alliance between DuPont and Bunge Ltd.) has invested in fundamental research to further understand the health benefits of soy protein. The Solae Company has supported the research on the effects of soy protein on heart health for more than a quarter century. Other areas of study related to soy protein include sports nutrition (15 years), cancer prevention (10 years), and women’s health (10 years).
Researchers have used soy protein products produced by The Solae Company in approximately 400 completed or ongoing soy studies. Of those studies, 110 focus on the effect of soy protein on heart health, 96 involve the effect of soy protein on women’s health (e.g. menopause and bone health), and 83 involve research on cancer such as breast and prostate cancer. More than 100 additional studies explore the effects of soy protein on other conditions.
The majority of current scientific research involving soy use soy protein produced by The Solae Company. More than 180 leading universities and research institutes trust our soy protein for research initiatives.