HISTORY
A decade of discoveries
Founded as a genomics technology firm, and operational since 1997, Ceres has been applying the techniques used in the Human Genome Project to crops. Our high-throughput systems have proven to be extremely effective at identifying not just genes, but also their function and potential use. More about the plant genomics race >>
Today, we are applying our knowledge to dedicated energy crops. This is resulting in higher biomass yields, more fuel per acre, fewer agricultural inputs, and a cleaner environment for us all.
Ceres Timeline
April 2008 |
The company announces its first seed products, switchgrass and high-biomass sorghum, will be sold under the brand name Blade Energy Crops. |
February 2008 |
Ceres' dedicated energy crops to support one of the first cellulosic biorefineries near St. Joseph, Missouri. |
January 2008 |
Ceres awarded "Best Venture Financing in Clean Technology" by Los Angeles Venture Association. |
October 2007 |
Company to develop high-biomass sorghum with Texas A&M. |
September 2007 |
Company raises $75 million through a private offering of convertible preferred stock. The late-stage financing round was led by Warburg Pincus. |
October 2006 |
Company receives $1.5 million research grant from the U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE) to double switchgrass yields by 2020. |
October 2006 |
Ceres receives $1.5 million research grant from the DOE to explore the feasibility of plant-based co-products with specialty materials company Rohm and Haas. |
July 2006 |
Ceres completes the analysis of over 12,000 switchgrass genes and characterizes the genetic variation associated with them. |
May 2006 |
Ceres begins a broad, long-term collaboration with the Noble Foundation to develop and commercialize energy crops. |
February 2006 |
The company signs a cooperative R&D agreement with the USDA to develop biotech traits in switchgrass. |
September 2005 |
Ceres is awarded a $1.4 million research grant from the DOE to enhance carbon sequestration in poplar in collaboration with the Oregon State University. |
July 2004 |
20,000 corn DNA sequences released to public researchers by Ceres. |
March 2004 |
The company releases 15,000 full-length soybean DNA sequences and over 95,000 partial sequences to Qualisoy, a soy industry coalition. |
April 2002 |
Ceres signs $137-million product discovery and development deal with Monsanto, providing the company with a broad outlet for its technology, including potential royalties. |
March 2002 |
Developed bioinformatics tools for predicting the three-dimensional structures of plant proteins. These tools provide key insights about gene function and utility (in collaboration with Super Computing Center at UC San Diego). |
December 2000 |
Collaboration started with The Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR) to identify the structure of genes and their encoded proteins. |
September 2000 |
Ceres and Genset sequence and characterize tens of thousands of genes in corn. |
July 2000 |
Ceres and Keygene complete gene expression database covering an estimated 90% of all genes expressed in Arabidopsis, a test plant used to understand and predict the role of genes in other crops. |
March 2000 |
Ceres completes major gene sequencing program in Arabidopsis. |
April 1999 |
The company forms plant genetics collaboration with the University of California. |
January 1998 |
Ceres obtains exclusive license to Genset's genomics technologies for applications in agricultural genetics. |
1997 |
Ceres focuses on applying genomics technologies developed for the Human Genome Project to plants. |