Mail on Sunday's view3 Jan 2010 10:50
Futuragene is developing ways to make trees grow faster and thicker and other plants more resistant to cold and drought. The company can bulk out trees such as poplar and eucalyptus by as much as 10% and recently signed a licence agreement with leading agrochemical company Bayer.
Poplar is widely used in power stations so if it can be made to grow more productively, it can replace a proportion of the coal that is currently used, thereby helping the environment. Eucalyptus is used to make paper, so developing its growth potential is also extremely beneficial.
FuturaGene will not be profitable for another two to three years but it recently raised £6m in a fundraising so it has enough money to finance research for a while.
›› Midas verdict: FuturaGene is a risky investment, but if its technology works, the stock could soar. Currently at 70p, the shares make an exciting punt for the adventurous investor. Buy.