Yield10 Bioscience Outlines Plans for Spring 2017

WOBURN, Mass., March 13, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Yield10 Bioscience, Inc. (NASDAQ: YTEN ) today outlined plans for its Spring 2017 field tests of the novel yield trait gene C3003 in Camelina and canola. The Company expects to begin planting in the second quarter and to report results of the field tests in the fourth quarter of 2017. Yield10 Bioscience is focused on developing proprietary, breakthrough technologies to create step-changes in yield for major food and feed crops to enhance global food security. 

In its Spring 2017 field testing program, Yield10 plans to test both first and second generation versions of its novel yield trait gene C3003 in Camelina, its Fast Field Testing platform oilseed crop for trait discovery and evaluation.   In addition, the Company plans to test first generation C3003 for the first time in field tests in canola, an important oilseed crop in North America.  Key agronomic and growth parameters of the plants will be monitored throughout the field testing and yield data including seed weight, seed size and oil content will be measured and analyzed as compared to control plants.  

“The field tests planned for spring 2017 represent another milestone for Yield10 in the evaluation of our novel yield trait gene C3003, which appears to impact the efficiency of photosynthesis leading to significant improvements in seed yield,” said Kristi Snell, Ph.D., Chief Science Officer of Yield10. “There will be two important ‘firsts’ in this field test—we will test second generation C3003 in Camelina, and we will test first generation C3003 in canola under field conditions. In parallel with our field work this year, we are working to deploy C3003 in soybean and rice to produce plants that can be tested under greenhouse conditions.”     

Background on the Novel Yield Trait Gene C3003

Yield10’s “Smart Carbon Grid for Plants” technology platform focuses on identifying gene targets that enhance carbon capture from photosynthesis and regulate the flow of carbon to seed.  C3003 represents the lead trait in this platform.  C3003 appears to be a very unique gene that impacts photorespiration, a biochemical pathway in C3 plants which is responsible for significant losses in yield. Yield10 is progressing the introduction of the C3003 gene trait and improvements to the C3003 trait, such as the second generation trait, in Camelina, canola, soybean and rice, and expects to report additional results from a number of these activities throughout 2017.    

About Yield10 Bioscience

Yield10 Bioscience, Inc. is focused on developing disruptive technologies for producing step-change improvements in crop yield to enhance global food security.  Yield10 is leveraging an extensive track record of innovation based around optimizing the flow of carbon intermediates in living systems. By working on new approaches to improve fundamental elements of plant photosynthetic efficiency and optimizing carbon metabolism to direct more carbon to seed production, Yield10 is advancing several yield traits it has developed in crops such as Camelina, canola, soybean and corn.  Yield10 is based in Woburn, MA. 

For more information about the company, please visit www.yield10bio.com .

(YTEN-G)

Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The forward-looking statements in this release do not constitute guarantees of future performance. Investors are cautioned that statements in this press release which are not strictly historical, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Company's intentions with regard to plans to conduct field tests with Camelina and canola, the results and outcome of those tests, and expectations with regard to the timing of (1) planting for its Spring 2017 field tests and (2) reporting results of greenhouse and field tests, constitute forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, including the risks and uncertainties detailed in Yield10 Bioscience's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Yield10 assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information contained in this press release or with respect to the announcements described herein.

Yield10 Inquiries: Lynne H. Brum, (617) 682-4693, LBrum@yield10bio.com Investor Relations Contact: Amato and Partners, LLC 90 Park Avenue, 17th Floor New York, NY 10016 admin@amatoandpartners.com