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Veronica Garabelli// July 11, 2013//
Danville’s Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) has launched its first commercial spin-off, Dan River Plants LLC (DRP), which uses tissue culture technology to replicate high-value horticulture and grass plants for conversion into bio-energy.
The company will invest more than $1.3 million and create at least 27 jobs in Pittsylvania County’s Ringgold East Industrial Park, as part of its move and expansion from the Charles Hawkins Research Center at the IALR.
Operations at Dan River Plant Propagation Center (now DRP) have been at IALR for more than two years. DRP is planning a ground breaking ceremony for August and expects to begin hiring by spring 2014. The technology used by DRP stems from a collaboration between IALR and Virginia Tech. The technology allows for the production of a large number of identical plants from a single plant, by removing small portions of the plant material and using special growing media and techniques to grow each portion into an identical plant.
IALR was founded in 2002 and engages in research, education and conferencing to achieve economic development, according to its website.
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