APDN to mark Yorkshire Textiles and Fabrics with botanical DNA

11 Sep '08

3 min read

Applied DNA Sciences Inc announced that it will utilize its proprietary SigNature DNA to mark Yorkshire Textiles and Fabrics in collaboration with the Textile Centre of Excellence consortium of companies.

The first phase of this collaboration will demonstrate how SigNature DNA can be used to authenticate textiles at all points of the supply chain through to the end user. In addition, this project will demonstrate the integration of SigNature DNA with existing manufacturing processes to produce threads, labels and fabrics manufactured by Yorkshire-based companies.

This project, funded through the Yorkshire Forward regional development agency, will run from August through December 2008. The initial funding for this project is £50,000, with the potential for more significant funding upon its successful completion in December. The second phase of this project would include APDN's BioMaterial Genotyping program for raw fibers such as wool, cashmere, and silk. Three other projects are being simultaneously funded, presenting APDN with additional opportunities to collaborate with Yorkshire textile manufacturers as well as many other Yorkshire based organizations.

“Yorkshire and Humber has a long standing legacy with the textiles industry and Yorkshire Forward – by working with the Textile Centre of Excellence – wants to ensure that the region's experience in this field can be combined with its cutting edge expertise to develop products and processes fit for the 21st century. We are delighted to support the Centre's work with Applied DNA Sciences to mark and authenticate DNA in Yorkshire textiles and fabric,” commented Mr. Jim Farmery, Assisted Director for Business, Yorkshire Forward.

The Textile and Apparel industry is diverse and heterogeneous, covering a wide range of products from high-tech synthetic yarns to wool fabrics, from cotton bed linen to outdoor non-woven fabrics and treatments to “haute couture” fabric.

Counterfeit textile and apparel items represent a significant and growing problem with many billions of dollars worth of seizures and losses incurred in the UK, USA and around the world. Given the global scale of this problem, there is not only a critical need for suppliers, manufacturers, retailers and brand owners to have a means to determine the authenticity of the products but there is also the need to be able to assure the end-consumer that products throughout the supply chain are 100% genuine.

Bill Macbeth, Managing Director, Textile Centre for Excellence stated, “Yorkshire companies are leading the world in developing technical, performance, and smart textiles and now, the use of botanical DNA will forensically authenticate Yorkshire made products. We are very excited to integrate state-of-the-art technologies to elevate the standard of textiles and apparel made in Yorkshire and used throughout the world.”

Upon successful completion of this initial project, the nextstage will be for APDN to develop genetic assays and authentication methodologies to identify thread, labels, textiles and fabric originating from Yorkshire. There may also be potential DNA applications in other Yorkshire industries requiring product authentication. .

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