ST. PAUL, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Calyxt, Inc., a Minnesota-based company focusing on developing healthier products to benefit both consumers and growers, today announced that it has completed the expansion of its high oleic/no trans fat soybean variety in Argentina, as part of its counter-season seed production.
Thirty tons of high oleic/no trans fat soybean seeds have now been shipped to production sites in the United States for further expansion, in preparation of a soft commercial launch expected in 2018.
Calyxt’s variety of soybean has a fatty acid profile very similar to olive oil, with the added benefit of a decrease of approximately 20% in saturated fatty acids compared to standard soybean oil.
The high oleic/no trans fat oil from this new variety of soybean, with a high oleic acid and low linolenic acid content, is designed to eliminate the need for hydrogenation, a process to improve heat stability and shelf life of conventional soybean oil. The negative consequence of hydrogenation is the production of trans fatty acids, which when consumed, raises low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, cholesterol levels and contributes to cardiovascular diseases.
In mid-2015, Calyxt received two letters from the USDA confirming that its high oleic and low linolenic varieties are non-regulated, as no foreign DNA is added in the development process.
“With the ban of trans fat products by the FDA, high oleic soybean varieties are becoming the next commodity soybean, positioning us as a potential leader in the field,” said Federico Tripodi, Chief Executive Officer of Calyxt, Inc.
About Calyxt
Founded in 2010, Calyxt, Inc. (previously Cellectis Plant Sciences) is based in Minneapolis-St. Paul. The company aims to create healthier crop products such as high-oleic/low trans fat soybean oil, cold storable potato, gluten reduced wheat and low saturated canola oil for the food and agriculture industries. Calyxt is developing a network of partnerships in order to secure accessibility of its food products to consumers. For further information please visit our website: www.calyxt.com
Calyxt™ and the corporate logo are trademarks owned by Calyxt, Inc.
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