NEED A HOTHOUSE? TRY EGYPT 

My column three years ago about the Escagen Corporation described their unusual research in the field of biotechnology ... producing such things as TPS (True Potato Seed). A farmer could plant an acre of land with five ounces of potato seed -- or he could use a ton of tubers to accomplish the same job. Most world potato farmers are still planting the old way.

Escagen was also working on developing a true vanilla flavoring. Why? Because that is a $100 million business world-wide. Most of the world's true vanilla flows from Madagascar. For centuries this island off the east coast of Africa has had an almost exclusive monopoly on this popular flavor which comes from the bean of a vanilla orchid plant.

Escagen was also working on propagation of such phyto-fruits as grapes and strawberries. They were trying to grow fruits in vats. Grapes without vines. Oranges and cherries without trees! The potential for micro-propagation is enormous.

This company, now called Escagenetics, have obtained U.S. and overseas patents on their phyto-vanilla process. And they have made a $10 million deal with Pioneer Hybrid on a two-year evaluation in Santiago, Chile.

TPS seed from Chile is planted in Egypt. Egyptian farmers apparently don't feel right about planting the very small potato seed, nor do they have the required equipment. So Escagenetics is planting, in an extremely dense pattern, their own seeds on a 73-acre farm in Egypt. When the seeds have grown to the size of a golf ball they are dug up and sold to Egyptian farmers who apparently have no objections to planting these mini-tubers which look like potatoes. An openess to selling what native farmer-buyers want instead of stubbornly trying to sell what they originally produced may be one of this company's hidden secrets. Planted in Egypt in early February, the potatoes are harvested in early summer.

Escagenetics are testing their developments in Turkey, Spain and Pakistan. They are learning to operate globally, while many in this field try to just push the sale of traditional products instead of changing as the world changes.

Another huge market is the baby food industry where chemical additives are diminishing sales to concerned mothers. So a corn germ plasma which eliminates the need for additives has been developed. Mothers currently cannot buy all-natural baby food containing this essential cornstarch ingredient. Bird's Eye brand will soon be marketing the new baby food with no chemical additives.

The company is also working on date and oil palm tissue. This is one of a series of projects based on micro-propagation ... growing tree fruit in vat cultures. It is like making beer. The original grain ferments in a vat, yeast is added and a totally new product "grows" from the biological interaction.

Escagenetics is a company to watch. And, perhaps your children should start learning about new methods of "farming".

More information: Adrienne Schaefler, Manager of Business Development, Escagenetics, 830 Branston Road, San Carlos, CA 94070.

Phone: 415/595-5335.

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