The biodetection system developed by the Danish R & D Company Aresa Biodetection ApS, relies on genetically modified plants of Arabidopsis thaliana. The leaf colour of the genetically modified varieties changes in a sufficiently strong way to be immediately noticed. For example, when the roots of a plant are subject to nitrogen dioxide, the leaf colour changes from light green to dark green-red. The leakage of nitorgen dioxide can be expected from unexploded land-mines and the Company hopes that the system can be utilized for detection purposes.

Plant leaves normally go red or redish in autumn where the red pigments dominate over the green ones, or as a result of stressed growth conditions. The genetically engineered plants are modified in a way that only allows these plants to go red if triggered by a specific stimulus present in the soil.

The stimulus is unique to each type of genetically modified plant according to the specific application. Stimuli may be NO2 that evaporates when explosives are reduced in the soil or they may be heavy metals. The genetically modified plants may also be developed to remove heavy metals by remediation of the soil. Such stimuli as NO2 and heavy metals in the soil trigger the production of a key-enzyme in the biochemical pathway responsible for production of the group of red pigments called anthocyanins. The resulting colour change is expected within 3-6 weeks dependent on the growth conditions.

Arabidopsis thaliana is a preferred plant because: much research and development work (including bio-detection) has already been undertaken; plants grow very quickly (growth cycle of 6-8 weeks); the species is naturally occurring all round the world (except at the poles); the plant is a well studied genetic model; it is an obligate self-pollinating plant thus preventing the spread of genetically engineered plants to the environment (male-sterility can also be induced to ensure that pollen is not spread to the environment). In this way, the plants developed by Aresa neither germinate nor set seeds unless a specific growth hormone is added to the plants (which of course also provides the Company with product protection in the marketplace).

Landmines represent a significant problem especially in the third world where about 26,000 people (source: Red Cross) on average are killed or injured every year. Another significant problem is that large areas of agricultural land (in Cambodia estimated by the U.N. as 40%, in Angola 90%) are unused with severe socio-economic consequences for the population/countries.

On a yearly basis USD 200 - 300 million (source: UN) are spent on demining funded by various governments. Pollution caused by heavy metals is a global challenge to the industrialized world and will have an increasing impact on the health of the population since heavy metals do not brea down in the soil They accumulate in the human body when ingested where they can cause serious illness.

Intellectual rights (protection) for the system has been applied for at an international level. The Company intends to introduce the technology to the market collaborative partnerships and/or strategic alliances. Furthermore, Aresa will enter into licensing agreements to allow partners to use the technology platform for specific purposes.

The Aresa Biodection ApS Company furthers its research and development using facilities at the Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Copenhagen and the Risø National Laboratory, Denmark. "The Garden" www.rhs.org.uk For further information, fax 0045 70227757, E-mail: info@aresa.dk www.aresa.dk