Currently Polar has three patents pending at the US Patent Office . The following years new projects on pollution control, genetic mapping of barley, molecular genetics of beer yeast, and the transformation of residuals of the beer process into nutritious foods for humans were undertaken. At the same time, through joint ventures with foreign companies Polar hopes to boost its technological knowledge. For example, through collaboration with Gist Brocades , the Netherlands, advances in the production of natural flavours derived from yeast in beer plants have been made. In the field of agricultural biotechnology, Polar is working on transgenic rice and maize.
Rice is transformed to increase resistance to the white leaf virus.
Polar's interest in the rice and maize projects is to improve productivity, since the company is the largest national buyer of maize, and a major one in rice and malted barley. Facts about Polar Polar is an industrial corporation employing more than 20,000 people worldwide in production and distribution of beverages, food products, animal feed, packing materials and mechanical products. Its main product is Polar Beer. In addition, it has a 38 per cent share in the largest Venezuelan bank. The company also has investments in petrochemicals.