Tagged U.S. Organic Cotton Expected at
Retail Spring 2018
Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. (“Applied DNA,” “the Company,”
NASDAQ: APDN), today announced that one of their ginning partners,
the Woolam Gin in O’Donnell, Texas, was awarded the Global Organic
Textile Standard (“GOTS v5.0”) certification, making it the first
certified U.S. organic cotton gin utilizing Applied DNA’s molecular
tagging system, which provides a single platform to tag, test, and
track the organic cotton fibers throughout a certified supply
chain. According to Control Union Certifications, a global
certification body, Woolam Gin is 100 percent compliant with all
standards and requirements for the GOTS v5.0 audit. Those standards
and requirements examine the high level environmental criteria for
processing organics, as well as socially responsible manufacturing
practices. The GOTS certification coupled with USDA’s National
Organic Program (NOP) certification for organically grown cotton is
the highest possible measurement standard.
According to the 2016 Textile Exchange Organic Cotton report,
the global market value of organic cotton is $15.76 billion and
continues to grow as more brands and retailers expand their organic
cotton collections. In the U.S., organic fiber sales represent
about $1.3 billion (2015) which equals more than 37 percent of
total organic non-food sales of $3.5 billion. The first molecularly
verified organic cotton is expected to debut at retail in spring,
2018, using the "OrganiCott™” cotton fiber brand, providing a means
for consumers to know where the organic cotton comes from, and that
it follows a certified organic cotton process.
“In an environment where consumers are demanding more
information about the origin and authenticity of their products,
Applied DNA is proud to partner with Woolam Gin to integrate
molecular tagging,” said Dr. James Hayward, president and CEO of
Applied DNA. “SigNature T assures that the organic cotton grown and
ginned in Texas is not blended with other cottons from different
origins or with non-organic cotton, thereby remaining pure
throughout the supply chain, all the way to the consumer.”
Continued Dr. Hayward, “The tagging of organic cotton evidences
Applied DNA’s growing entrenchment in the U.S. cotton industry. The
deployment of our tagging system, starting first with Pima cotton
and continuing on to the Upland varietals and organic cotton
reflects the importance industry participants today place on the
use of technology to change the way that they source cotton and
take control of their supply chain. Participating in the supply
chain of certified organic cotton now sets the precedent for our
participation in other certified organic supply chains, providing
the assurance that both the manufacturers and consumers
demand.”
Since 1999, on a world scale, there has been a four-fold
increase in organic agricultural land (from 11 million to 43.7
million hectares in 2014 (FiBL & IFOAM - Organics
International, 2016). The GOTS standard provides chain of custody
assurance covering cotton processing, manufacturing, packaging,
labeling, trading and distribution of home and apparel textiles
made with organic fiber. The standard prohibits the use of toxic
inputs during the processing stages and includes strong labor
protections, including prohibitions on child labor. As of January
2017, more than 1.4 million workers were in more than 4,600
facilities in over 60 countries certified under GOTS.
“We are excited that GOTS has approved our ginning process
utilizing the Applied DNA SigNature T molecular tag,” said Jimmy
Wedel, president, Texas Organic Cotton Marketing. “Use of the
molecular tag will give an added level of traceability,
transparency and trust that are an important value to our
cooperative and its members.” The Texas Organic Cotton Marketing
Cooperative, based in West Texas High Plains area, grew almost 80
percent of all the organic cotton in the U.S. in 2015.
“We are committed to a ginning process that authenticates our
Texas organic cotton at its source,” said Kendall Harris, manager
of Woolam Gin. “We take this commitment seriously and work hard to
ensure that our organic cotton meets the highest standard to date.
Woolam Gin is pleased to partner with Applied DNA and Control Union
to complete our GOTS certification. This was a huge step and
it is an honor to become the first GOTS v5.0 certified gin in the
United States.”
About Woolam GinWoolam Gin
is a third-generation family operated cotton gin in West Texas that
has been in business since 1949. In 1991, we became the first gin
in the United States to gin organic cotton. We are committed to
staying on the cutting edge of technology and, therefore,
processing cotton of the highest standard in the ginning industry.
We take great pride in ginning quality cotton that produces the
best product and, therefore, maximizes profit for our producers. We
look forward to working with our producers to help them achieve
their quality goals. Woolam Gin believes “Quality Pays!”
About OrganiCott™OrganiCott™
is a trademark owned by Himatsingka America.
About Applied DNA
SciencesApplied DNA is a provider of molecular
technologies that enable supply chain security, anti-counterfeiting
and anti-theft technology, product genotyping and DNA mass
production for diagnostics and therapeutics.
We make life real and safe by providing innovative,
molecular-based technology solutions and services that can help
protect products, brands, entire supply chains, and intellectual
property of companies, governments and consumers from theft,
counterfeiting, fraud and diversion. The proprietary DNA-based
“CertainT™” platform can be used to identify, tag, test, and track
products, to help assure authenticity, origin, traceability,
sustainability and quality of products.
SigNature® DNA describes the core technology ingredient that is
at the heart of a family of uncopyable, security and authentication
solutions such as SigNature®T and fiberTyping®, targeted towards
textiles and apparel, BackTrac™ and DNAnet®, for anti-theft and
loss prevention, and digitalDNA®, providing powerful
track-and-trace. All provide a forensic chain of evidence, and can
be used to prosecute perpetrators. Applied DNA Sciences is also
engaged in the large-scale production of specific DNA sequences
using the polymerase chain reaction.
Visit adnas.com for more information. Follow us
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list.
Forward-Looking StatementsThe statements made by APDN in
this press release may be “forward-looking” in nature within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995.
Forward-looking statements describe APDN's future plans,
projections, strategies and expectations, and are based on
assumptions and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, many
of which are beyond the control of APDN. Actual results could
differ materially from those projected due to our short operating
history, limited financial resources, limited market acceptance,
market competition and various other factors detailed from time to
time in APDN’s SEC reports and filings, including our Annual Report
on Form 10-K filed on December 6, 2016, and our subsequent
quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed on February 9, 2017, May 11,
2017 and August 10, 2017 which are available at www.sec.gov.
APDN, undertakes no obligation to update publicly any
forward-looking statements to reflect new information, events or
circumstances after the date hereof to reflect the occurrence of
unanticipated events, unless otherwise required by law.
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Applied DNA Sciences, Inc.Investors:Sanjay Hurry,
212-838-3777shurry@lhai.comorMedia:Angie Mathews,
781-639-4924angie@cgprpublicrelations.comorProgram
contact:MeiLin Wan, 631-240-8849Vice President, Textile
Salesmeilin.wan@adnas.comweb: www.adnas.comtwitter:
@APDN
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