Cellectis plant sciences CEO Luc Mathis joins Board of Directors of the French Association for Plant Biotechnology (AFBV)

Paris, June 6, 2013 – Cellectis (NYSE Alternext: ALCLS), the global genome engineering specialist, announced today that Luc Mathis, Cellectis plant sciences CEO, has been elected to the Board of Directors of the French Association for Plant Biotechnology (Association Française des Biotechnologies Végétales, AFBV).

The French Association for Plant Biotechnology (AFBV) is an independent NGO established in 2009. Its founding purposes are to raise awareness about plant biotechnology, assess the benefits and risks, and at the same time promote the use of plant biotechnology in support of rapidly expanding sustainable agriculture. 

Luc Mathis is an internationally recognized expert, bringing with him to the AFBV a set of skills that will help champion plant biotechnology as an essential stepping stone towards sustainable agriculture. While on the association’s Board of Directors, he will work to secure recognition for the benefits of new variety selection methods, and participate in forward thinking about what such methods could mean.

After paying due tribute to the achievements of Board member Alain Godard, Luc Mathis stated, “People have to understand that these recent technologies are a game‑changer when it comes to making new agricultural models work. I believe these innovations will enable us to reconcile the need for ecological sustainability and agricultural economic development on a global scale.”

AFBV President Marc Fellous welcomed the addition of Luc Mathis to his association’s Board of Directors, saying “I am delighted with Luc Mathis’ appointment. Our association needs the skills and enthusiasm of people with a central role to play in international agricultural innovation.” 

Luc Mathis, PhD completed his doctorate at the University of Paris VI as well as a postdoctoral fellowship at the California Institute of Technology. He began his career at the Institut Pasteur as a state‑sponsored (CNRS) researcher before joining Cellectis in 2006, where he is now Chief Executive Officer of Cellectis plant sciences.