Who we are

 History

 What we do

Florigene's original mission was to create the world's first blue rose through introduction of the Blue Gene into roses. In 1991, Florigene scientists succeeded in isolating the Blue Gene (from the petunia flower) and an initial patent application to protect the invention was lodged. This was followed with patent applications for the Key Markets. Florigene has since acquired, licensed or developed other technologies and know-how that it deemed necessary to successfully introduce and express this gene in flowers for the purpose of generating novel colours. While the rose was and continues to be an important target flower for the technology, the Company was also interested in other commercial flowers that lacked the Blue Gene – carnations, gerberas and chrysanthemums. Moreover, the Company realised that the commercial opportunity was not limited to 'blue', but extended to a range of novel colours in the blue spectrum. These colours can be described as variations of mauve or violet.

In 1995, Florigene scientists succeeded in generating the first carnation to express colour in the blue spectrum. This flower had a light mauve colour and was called Florigene Moondust™. This was an important breakthrough and it was the first genetically modified flower to gain regulatory approval and be commercially sold anywhere in the world. Florigene Moonshadow™, Florigene's second novel-coloured carnation, had a much stronger violet colour and was introduced into the Australian market as a pilot product in 1998. Florigene Moonshadow™ is now being sold in the Key Markets: USA, Europe and Japan.